Database Specific
Database Specific Abstract AbstractThis database includes annual, quarterly and monthly information on CO2 emissions related to commercial passenger, freight, and general aviation flights, on both a territory and a residence basis, for 186 countries. These CO2 emissions are estimated by the OECD, based on a consistent methodology across countries.
Source Source Contact person/organisation Contact person/organisationSDD.SEEA@oecd.org
Direct source Direct sourceThe main source used for the estimation of these CO2 emissions is a database compiled by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) with all commercial passenger and freight flights around the world. For each flight, this database includes information on the departure and arrival airports, the operating airline and the type of aircraft used. From 2019 onwards, the ICAO data source is Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) system and for years prior to 2019 the estimates are based on a database of scheduled flight information. A complete description of the estimation methodology is provided in the OECD Working Paper CO2 Emissions from Air Transport - A Near-Real-Time Global Database for Policy Analysis.
For each airline, the country which has delivered its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) is known. An AOC is the approval granted by a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator allowing it to use aircrafts for commercial purposes. This information is used to estimate aviation-related CO2 emissions on a residence basis in most cases.
The ICAO database is coupled with CO2 emission calculator provided by Eurocontrol. Given an aircraft type equipped with specific engines and a distance to travel, this tool can be used to calculate a quantity of fuel burnt and a quantity of CO2 emitted. Additional details are available in Eurocontrol (2016). This method corresponds to a Tier-3A methodology in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for the compilation of national GHG inventories.
Specific treatment of general aviation for the United States (prior to 2019): The ICAO scheduled flights database includes limited data on general aviation (e.g. agricultural planes, private jets and helicopters). Among Annex-I countries to the UNFCCC, it is only for the US that public information is available on the corresponding CO2 emissions. According to the 2019 National Inventory Report for the US, these emissions largely occur on the domestic territory. We further assume that they are only caused by resident units. The aviation-related CO2 emissions for the US in this database include CO2 emissions from commercial passenger and freight flights, as for all other countries, as well as CO2 emissions related to general aviation, as reported in the US National Inventory Report.
Further information on the estimation methodology and its accuracy are available in the OECD working paper.
Data Characteristics Data Characteristics Date last updated Date last updatedOct. 2023
Link to Release calendar Link to Release calendarThis database is updated by the end of the first month of each quarter with new data from the previous quarter. Please note that in October 2023, a small revision was made to the time series, affecting figures for selected indicators in a small number of countries for the time series from 2019 onward.
Unit of measure used Unit of measure usedtonnes
Population & Scope Population & Scope Statistical population Statistical populationFlights are broken down into 3 categories: total flights, passenger flights, and freight flights. Please note that general aviation (non-freight flights with less than 19 passengers, e.g. agricultural planes and private jets) are included with passenger flights.
This database includes annual, quarterly and monthly information on CO2 emissions related to commercial passenger, freight, and general aviation flights, on both a territory and a residence basis, for 186 countries. These CO2 emissions are estimated by the OECD, based on a consistent methodology across countries.
SDD.SEEA@oecd.org
The main source used for the estimation of these CO2 emissions is a database compiled by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) with all commercial passenger and freight flights around the world. For each flight, this database includes information on the departure and arrival airports, the operating airline and the type of aircraft used. From 2019 onwards, the ICAO data source is Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) system and for years prior to 2019 the estimates are based on a database of scheduled flight information. A complete description of the estimation methodology is provided in the OECD Working Paper CO2 Emissions from Air Transport - A Near-Real-Time Global Database for Policy Analysis.
For each airline, the country which has delivered its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) is known. An AOC is the approval granted by a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator allowing it to use aircrafts for commercial purposes. This information is used to estimate aviation-related CO2 emissions on a residence basis in most cases.
The ICAO database is coupled with CO2 emission calculator provided by Eurocontrol. Given an aircraft type equipped with specific engines and a distance to travel, this tool can be used to calculate a quantity of fuel burnt and a quantity of CO2 emitted. Additional details are available in Eurocontrol (2016). This method corresponds to a Tier-3A methodology in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for the compilation of national GHG inventories.
Specific treatment of general aviation for the United States (prior to 2019): The ICAO scheduled flights database includes limited data on general aviation (e.g. agricultural planes, private jets and helicopters). Among Annex-I countries to the UNFCCC, it is only for the US that public information is available on the corresponding CO2 emissions. According to the 2019 National Inventory Report for the US, these emissions largely occur on the domestic territory. We further assume that they are only caused by resident units. The aviation-related CO2 emissions for the US in this database include CO2 emissions from commercial passenger and freight flights, as for all other countries, as well as CO2 emissions related to general aviation, as reported in the US National Inventory Report.
Further information on the estimation methodology and its accuracy are available in the OECD working paper.
tonnes
Oct. 2023
This database is updated by the end of the first month of each quarter with new data from the previous quarter. Please note that in October 2023, a small revision was made to the time series, affecting figures for selected indicators in a small number of countries for the time series from 2019 onward.
Flights are broken down into 3 categories: total flights, passenger flights, and freight flights. Please note that general aviation (non-freight flights with less than 19 passengers, e.g. agricultural planes and private jets) are included with passenger flights.