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 1940 to 2018.

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Earth radiates heat

Heat passes through

Heat is trapped
under cirrus clouds

Some of the sun's energy gets
reflected away from the earth by
contrail-induced cirrus clouds

Earth radiates heat back into space

...most of the sun's energy passes
through these clouds, warming the earth

...the contrail-induced cirrus clouds
absorb some of this heat and act like a
blanket around earth's atmosphere

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.

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By The Numbers

100%

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

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

$100

Average cost of avoiding warming equivalent to one tonne of CO₂

Millennia

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

Who We Are

Contrails.org is a non-profit applied research organization dedicated to reducing aviation's climate impact through contrail management.

We bring together leading scientists, technologists, and industry experts working to make contrail management a practical reality.

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Explore the contrails map

Our contrail map shows you how contrail-induced cirrus clouds are warming the planet. Learn whether your recent flight created harmful contrails, see how small changes to flight paths can prevent contrails, and more.

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Contrails in the press