Environmental capacity of aviation: Theoretical issues and basic research directions

The European Union Transport Commission considers limited environmental capacity a potential constraint on aviation growth. Although environmental capacity is subject to value-laden judgements regarding environmental conservation and socio-economic development, levels of environmental capacity consumption and availability can in principle be determined within a distance-to-target framework. Locally negotiated emission levels and regulated environmental quality states can function as local environmental capacity targets for airports. For environmental factors not already regulated, protocols for sectoral limits for resource inputs and waste outputs need to be researched and developed. Assessment of environmental capacity availability and consumption should be undertaken on a lifecycle basis.