We can drastically cut aviation's climate impact.

The Problem

Contrails cause

1-2% of global warming.

We can eliminate most of that at near-zero cost.

Aircraft cause warming in two ways: greenhouse gas emissions and contrails. That's because contrails (aircraft condensation trails) often grow into cirrus clouds that trap heat in the lower atmosphere and significantly add to global warming. Recent estimates show that contrails cause about the same amount of warming each year as all the CO2 emitted by all flights from 1945 to 2018.

The Solution

Adjusting 5% of flights could avoid up to 80% of contrail warming.

Using weather forecasts, satellite imagery and other data, we can model, detect, and avoid contrails just like turbulence, icing, or storms. We are advancing science and building contrail management systems that can be used by the aviation industry to significantly reduce their climate impact, immediately.

By The Numbers

Number of planes slightly redirected to avoid producing the most harmful contrails

80%

Portion of contrail climate warming avoided by re-routing 5% of planes

< 1$

Average cost of avoiding warming equivalent to one tonne of CO2

Days

Amount of time it takes to get the full cooling effect for avoiding contrails

Number of planes slightly redirected to avoid producing the most harmful contrails

80%

Portion of contrail climate warming avoided by re-routing 5% of planes

< 1$

Average cost of avoiding warming equivalent to one tonne of CO2

Days

Amount of time it takes to get the full cooling effect for avoiding contrails

Who We Are

Contrails.org is a science-led non-profit that exists to propel contrail research into climate action.

Originating from a small working group at Breakthrough Energy, Contrails.org is a team of scientists, technologists, and policy experts working in collaboration with the aviation industry, academic partners, policymakers and civil society. Together, we are catalyzing the research, innovations and incentives needed to make contrail management a practical reality.

Learn More

Contrails in the press