Successful Project Completion: Testing an MRV System for Non-CO₂ Effects in Aviation

As of 1 January 2025, the EU will implement an MRV system (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) to monitor non-CO₂ effects in aviation in order to capture their climate impact, such as contrail formation and NOx emissions. On behalf of the UBA, the DLR Institute of Air Transport, in collaboration with the DLR Institutes of Propulsion Technology and Atmospheric Physics, developed and tested such a system.

The system uses real flight data to automate emissions calculations and the estimation of CO₂ equivalents through software. The basis for this testing included flight monitoring data from 400 intra-European flights provided by European Air Transport Leipzig (EAT), a subsidiary of DHL Cargo. The Science Council highlighted the project as exemplary for cooperation between research and policy advisory.

Climate Impact of Aviation, Developments, and Measures³

At the request of the Federal Environment Agency, the participating DLR institutes summarised the current scientific knowledge on the climate impact of aviation in an informational brochure. This brochure explains how aviation affects the climate, particularly through CO₂ emissions and non-CO₂ climate effects such as contrail cirrus, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and aerosols.

The brochure outlines the relevant climate-impacting substances and their effects, as well as the potential future climate impact of aviation given continued growth. To mitigate aviation’s climate impact, it highlights technological improvements, such as energy-efficient aircraft and new propulsion technologies, the use of synthetic fuels, and operational measures like climate-optimised flight routes. Additionally, it discusses how political measures and more mindful travel choices by passengers can contribute to making aviation more climate-friendly.

Scientific Support of the European MRV Introduction Process for Non-CO₂ Effects

The successful collaboration between the DLR and UBA will continue to scientifically support the European process of introducing an MRV system for aviation’s non-CO₂ effects.

A first trial of the planned MRV system is set to take place before the end of the initial reporting year in 2025 to gain and share key insights. Additionally, an investigation will assess the likelihood of existing uncertainties in calculating non-CO₂ effects leading to possible misincentives within the MRV framework.

_{1 "Testing of a monitoring and reporting scheme for integrating non-CO₂ aviation effects into EU ETS" (2024, Martin Plohr – DLR Institute of Propulsion Technology, Katrin Dahlmann – DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Malte Niklaß – DLR Institute of Air Transport)}

_{2 "Testing of a verification scheme for integrating non-CO2 aviation effects into EU ETS" (2024, Malte Niklaß, Alexander Lau – DLR Institute of Air Transport, Katrin Dahlmann – DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Martin Plohr – DLR Institute of Propulsion Technology)}