Although aviation is a relatively small industry, it has a disproportionately large impact on the climate system. It presently accounts for 4-9% of the total climate change impact of human activity. Since 1990, CO2 emissions from international aviation have increased 83%.
When jet fuel is burned, the carbon in the fuel is released and bonds with oxygen (O2) in the air to form carbon dioxide (CO2). Burning jet fuel also releases water vapour, nitrous oxides, sulphate, and soot. Aircraft emissions trigger the formation of contrails (condensation trails), and contribute to the formation of cirrus clouds.

A special characteristic of aircraft emissions is that most of them are produced at cruising altitudes high in the atmosphere. Scientific studies have shown that these high-altitude emissions have a more harmful climate impact because they trigger a series of chemical reactions and atmospheric effects that have a net warming effect. The IPCC, for example, has estimated that the climate impact of aircraft is two to four times greater than the effect of their carbon dioxide emissions alone.

Instead of commuting from home to work and back each day, think if you can work from home on some days. You can also take advantage of teleconferencing. There are many environmental benefits to this – less traffic, less gas use and less air pollution.