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Exploitation / Achievements
Expected advantages for Europe
Results of REACT4C have been published in peer reviewed journals, reports, popular
science magazines and on the internet (e.g. the project website http://www.react4c.eu), and
have been presented at international conferences. The EC and co-operating partners
received information at the earliest possible stage. In this way, which is via the European
Commission, the Network European Environmental Advisory Committee (EEAC) could
directly and indirectly be informed on project results. In particular, initial results from
REACT4C have been available early enough for any upcoming IPCC Initiative to update the
Special Report on Aviation. Furthermore, policymakers, stakeholders in the aviation sector
and the general public have been informed via the internet, brochures and targeted
workshops.
Many of the REACT4C participants have other important roles within the climate and aviation
communities, for instance as ICAO/CAEP members, participants of the Clean Sky JTI and
the SESAR JU, IPCC climate experts. Coordinators of other European projects are involved
in the Consortium as well. This assures efficient dissemination of project results.
Stakeholders in REACT4C range from airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers,
service agencies, but also include regulators, policy makers and the general public.
Adequate means of dissemination to these groups are presented below.
Dissemination to aeronautics stakeholders
As REACT4C has provided strategic important information on efficient flying with respect to
fuel consumption, emissions and the climate impact of aviation, stakeholders have been
involved in the project. For this reason an REACT4C Expert Panel has been established
under the chairmanship of Dr. Herbert Pümpel, former Chief of the Aeronautical Meteorology
Unit of WMO. This Expert Panel has been involved in this collaborative project from the
beginning. Their contextual information on the challenges for ATM and other potential
obstacles has been taken into account by the project. The meetings of the Expert Panel have
been flanked by technical seminars specifically designed to the needs of stakeholders, and
technical papers (e.g. on environmental cost functions), thematic papers, and position papers
(e.g. on recommendations to include non-CO2 effects in ETS). Finally, in the fourth year
focus has been given on identifying possible obstacles for implementing our newly developed
procedure, and recommendations how to over-come them, have been provided. A public
outreach event as a REACT4C stakeholder seminar was performed in the fourth year.
Community societal objectives
An objective of the European Union is to provide future mobility to the European and world
population. Such mobility requires sustainable paths for future development. The ACARE
targets were set out in order to contribute towards this sustainable development path. This
requires eliminating inefficiencies within the air transport system. In air traffic management
still such environmental inefficiencies do exist and provide the potential for improving
environmental performance of aviation.
Another objective of the European Union is to reduce the risks arising from climate change to
the European and world population. This requires the development of strategies for reducing
climate-impacting emissions and for adapting to a changing climate. In both cases,
quantitative knowledge of the various factors contributing to climate change is required.
Future commitment periods to the Kyoto Protocol will potentially require further reductions of
emissions and the inclusion of additional species. While the Global Warming Potential
(GWP) provides a measure for comparing the six gases or groups of gases from the Kyoto
basket, it fails when comparing (or trading) CO2 with precursors of shorter-lived species like
ozone or with aerosols and contrails. For instance, Lee and Sausen (2000) pointed out the
difficulties of including international aviation into the emission trading concept of the Kyoto
Protocol.
REACT4C has explored possibilities to optimise flight trajectories under environmental
aspects. The tool developed allows planning trajectories with less climate impact and its
availability helps European policymakers in formulating policies for reducing emissions and
evaluating mitigation measures. The improved information on the climate impact of
emissions that has been achieved in the project allows industry to incorporate, with greater
confidence, environmental considerations into both their design and development work and
flight planning.
Reinforcing European Competitiveness
The European Commission has the possibility to exploit the new information provided by the
project in negotiations on international treaties. As for the topic Impact of Aviation on
Climate, where Europe is in a leading position, REACT4C results and the new possibilities
increase the competence, visibility and reputation of European research. The early access to
new information has strengthened the position of the European Commission and that of
present European representatives in ICAO. REACT4C. The European influence in IPCC fora
is expected to increase. Additionally, the project results help improving the competitiveness
of European industry through the provision of the most up to date information (link to Clean
Sky).
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