A systematic review of adaption to climate change impacts in the aviation sector

Abstract

The incremental changes and greater extremes of a changing climate will have operational, infrastructure and economic impacts for aviation. Given the criticality of aviation for global connectivity and mobility, it is vital that the sector understands and adequately adapts to these risks. This article presents a systematic review of the growing but somewhat dispersed academic literature on climate change impacts and adaptation in the aviation sector. Information was synthesised from 131 studies (published between January 2000 and November 2022) on eleven climate change effects and the associated impacts and potential adaptation measures. Six areas for action to address knowledge, awareness and implementation gaps were identified: (i) to broaden geographical coverage, particularly to address the current lack of studies addressing climate risks and responses in Central and South America, Africa and the Middle East; (ii) to extend knowledge of physical impacts; (iii) to address known-unknowns such as the risks associated with unprecedented or compound extreme events; (iv) to extend knowledge of adaptation including cost–benefit analysis and consideration of integrated mitigation and adaptation; (v) to identify and apply other relevant research; and (vi) for sector bodies to support and facilitate collaboration between researchers and practitioners to co-develop accessible user-oriented climate adaptation services.