Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Place-Based Biochar Production for Ecosystem Restoration and Soil Health
Published on: April 5, 2024
Net-zero aviation: Transition barriers and radical climate policy design implications
Stefan Gössling1, Andreas Humpe2
1Western Norway Research Institute, PO Box 163, 6851 Sogndal, Norway; School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, 391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
Abstract:
While air transport decarbonization is theoretically feasible, less attention has been paid to the complexity incurred in various 'transition barriers' that act as roadblocks to net-zero goals. A total of 40 barriers related to mitigation, management, technology and fuel transition, finance, and governance are identified. As these make decarbonization uncertain, the paper analyzes air transport system's growth, revenue, and profitability. Over the period 1978-2022, global aviation has generated marginal profits of US$20200.94 per passenger, or US$202082 billion in total. Low profitability makes it unlikely that the sector can finance the fuel transition cost, at US$0.5-2.1 trillion (Dray et al. 2022). Four radical policy scenarios for air transport futures are developed. All are characterized by "limitations", such as CO2 taxes, a carbon budget, alternative fuel obligations, or available capacity. Scenario runs suggest that all policy scenarios will more reliably lead to net-zero than the continued volume growth model pursued by airlines.
Related Concept Videos
Global Climate Change
Energy Conservation and Bernoulli's Equation
All the terms in the equation have the dimension of energy per unit volume. The kinetic energy per unit volume is called the kinetic energy density, and the potential energy per unit volume is...
Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Thermodynamics
What is Climate?
The Carbon Cycle

