Event
Sustainable Skies Conference: Contrails in Focus
In collaboration with
The global push for climate neutrality and sustainability has put the spotlight on the aviation industry's impact on non-CO2 emissions, with contrails and associated cirrus clouds coming under scrutiny.
To explore this key environmental issue, CANSO & EUROCONTROL were pleased to host the Sustainable Skies Conference: Contrails in Focus, which took place at EUROCONTROL's Brussels headquarters on 7-8 November 2023.
The overall goal of the event was to bring together scientists, researchers, the aviation industry, policy makers and other stakeholders to improve the understanding of the formation and characteristics of contrails and contrail-induced cirrus clouds, together with their impact on climate – and to explore potential mitigation measures to minimise their occurrence.
Over the course of the two days, world-leading experts:
- took stock of the current state of knowledge on the topic;
- explored the state-of-the-art methods for detecting and monitoring contrails and cirrus clouds;
- looked at current methods and technologies for predicting the formation of contrails and cirrus clouds and estimating their impact on the climate (and the interdependencies with CO2); and
- discussed possible ways of minimising contrail formation and the challenges of operationalising mitigation measures at scale.
The first day focussed on presenting the latest scientific insights and ongoing research on contrails, while the second day featured panel debates and more strategic discussions.
Watch
Day 1
Day 2
Photos from the event
Download the presentations
Session 2: Contrails versus CO₂. Contrails Avoidance - Challenges
University of Reading & Manchester Metropolitan UniversitySession 2: Contrails versus CO₂. CO₂ equivalence metrics and contrail avoidance
University of Reading & Sorbonne UniversitySession 3: Detection and monitoring of contrails. Detecting contrails with deep learning in GOES-16 ABI
GoogleSession 3: Detection and monitoring of contrails. Observational contrail avoidance.
MITSession 3: Detection and monitoring of contrails. A Linear Contrail Detection, Tracking and Matching Algorithm
AirbusSession 3: Detection and monitoring of contrails. Contrail Research: The Critical Role of Observational Data & AI
EUROCONTROLSession 3: Detection and monitoring of contrails. Potential and limitations of satellite remote sensing for contrail avoidance
DLRSession 3: Detection and monitoring of contrails. Robust and Trustworthy AI for Green Aviation
ThalesSession 4: Prediction of contrails formation and climate impact. Prediction of contrails formation & Observation process
Météo France & Air FranceSession 4: Prediction of contrails formation and climate impact. Forecast of Potential Persistent Contrails
DWD and WMOSession 4: Prediction of contrails formation and climate impact. Climate Met Service for climate-optimized trajectory planning
DLRSession 4: Prediction of contrails formation and climate impact. Global contrail climate effects from 2019 to 2021
Imperial College LondonSession 4: Prediction of contrails formation and climate impact. Machine-learned contrail forecasting
GoogleSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. Contrails: R&D roadmap
Sesar 3 Joint UndertakingSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. CONCERTO
THALESSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. CICONIA
AirbusSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. AEROPLANE
Deep BlueSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. E-CONTRAIL Project
Universidad Carlos III de MadridSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. FlyATM4E and D-KULT Project
DLRSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. Non-CO₂ emissions characterisation: ECLIF3 and VOLCAN in-flight measurement campaigns overview
AirbusSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. CREATE Project
Parthenope University of NaplesSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. Better contrail mitigation through flight trajectory optimization (BeCoM)
TU DelftSession 5: Contrails Research Roadmap. Developing an Implementation Roadmap for Contrail Mitigation
RMISession 7: Non-CO₂ monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV)
European Commission & To70Session 9: Operational mitigating strategies. MUAC Contrails Prevention project
EUROCONTROL MUACSession 9: Operational mitigating strategies. Traffic Flow Optimization
Borealis & ThalesSession 9: Operational mitigating strategies. Contrail avoidance in practice - Approach & preliminary feasibility
Breakthrough EnergySession 9: Operational mitigating strategies. Fast Track to Sustainable Aviation: Implementation of contrail avoidance in commercial flight planning
Flightkeys GmbHSession 9: Operational mitigating strategies. Contrail Mitigation in Flight Planning
Lufthansa Systems GmbHSession 9: Operational mitigating strategies. Climate optimised flight planning
SATAVIASession 9: Operational mitigating strategies. Exploring Strategies for minimising persistent warming contrails
NATS & AirbusSession 9: Operational mitigating strategies. Boeing's approach
Boeing Commercial AirplanesSession 10: Other mitigation strategies. Potential for contrail mitigation by changing engine particle emissions
Imperial College LondonSession 10: Other mitigation strategies. The role of SAF and other fuel-related measures for contrails mitigation
NesteSession 10: Other mitigation strategies. Technical levers for contrails reduction
SafranSession 10: Other mitigation strategies. The influence of engine design parameters on climate
TU DelftSession 12: European non-CO₂ research programme. Strengthening and coordinating support on non-CO₂ impact assessments
EASASession 12: European non-CO₂ research programme. Aviation non-CO₂ emissions: 25 years of EU-funded activities and what’s next for research and policy?
European CommissionOutcome
Following the Conference, EUROCONTROL and CANSO, together with the conference speakers, created a document outlining the latest advancements in contrail science and mitigation.
| Time | Session | Speakers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 - 10:00 | Registration & welcome coffee | ||
| 10:00 - 10:15 | Welcome & opening remarks |
|
|
| 10:15 - 10:55 | What are contrails? Speakers will explain what contrails and contrail-induced cirrus clouds are, how and under which meteorological conditions they form, their physical properties and how they impact climate change. Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 10:55 - 11:35 | Contrails versus CO2 This session will explore the critical aspects of contrail avoidance, highlighting the importance of making informed trade-offs between CO2 emissions and the impact of contrails on the climate. Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 11:35 - 12:35 | Detection and monitoring of contrails (Part 1) In this session our speakers will address the technical challenges and state-of-the-art methods for detecting and monitoring contrails, focusing on remote-sensing techniques (satellite, ground observation); in situ measurements (onboard, meteorological); and computer vision and deep learning techniques. Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 12:35 - 13:35 | Lunch break and tour of stands in the lobby | ||
| 13:35 - 14:35 | Detection and monitoring of contrails (Part 2) Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 14:35 - 15:30 |
Prediction of contrails formation and climate impact (Part 1) |
|
|
| 15:30 - 16:10 | Coffee break and tour of stands | ||
| 16:10 - 16:50 | Prediction of contrails formation and climate impact (Part 2) Followed by a Q&A session for Part 1 & 2 speakers. |
|
|
| 16:50 - 18:20 | Contrails Research Roadmap This session will provide an overview of ongoing contrail research projects and how they contribute to addressing unanswered questions. |
|
|
| 18:20 - 18:30 | Future research priorities and roadmap for deployment (ATM Master Plan) In this session our speaker will outline future research priorities and the roadmap for the deployment of initiatives outlined in the European ATM Master Plan. |
|
|
| 18:30 - 18:35 | Day 1 Wrap-up | ||
| 18:35 - 21:00 | Reception and tour of stands | ||
| Time | Session | Speakers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 - 09:00 | Welcome coffee and registration | ||
| 09:00 - 09:10 | Welcome and opening remarks |
|
|
| 09:10 - 09:30 | Non-CO2 monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) In this session, our speaker will present the plan for establishing a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) scheme of aviation’s non-CO2 effects, in support of the preparation of implementing legislation defined in the EU ETS Directive, as well as provide support for operating the implementing rules as defined by the EU ETS Directive. This session will set the scene for the following panel discussion on MRV. |
|
|
| 09:30 - 10:15 | Panel discussion on non-CO2 MRV Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 10:15 - 11:00 | Coffee break and tour of stands | ||
| 11:00 - 12:15 | Operational mitigating strategies (Part 1) In this session, experts across the aviation industry will explore lessons learned from various trials and look at potential operational mitigation strategies to minimise contrail formation by predicting and avoiding ice supersaturated regions. They will discuss how these mitigation strategies may impact flight operations and air traffic management if implemented at scale. Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 12:15 - 13:15 | Lunch break and tour of exhibits | ||
| 13:15 - 14:35 | Operational mitigating strategies (Part 2) Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 14:35 - 15:50 | Other mitigation strategies In this session experts from universities and industry will discuss the potential of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in reducing contrail formation. They will look at all types of emissions (CO2 and non-CO2) and the technological challenges posed by the need to reduce them all, in addition to considering the impact of other constraints to air traffic performance. Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 15:50 - 16:10 | Coffee break and tour of exhibits | ||
| 16:10 - 16:55 | Mitigation strategies panel discussion Followed by a Q&A session. |
|
|
| 16:55 - 17:20 | European non-CO2 research programme This session will feature EASA's perspective on the challenge of non-CO2 mitigation measures and future actions to stimulate research and the development of mitigation strategies. |
|
|
| 17:20 - 17:35 | Conference wrap-up and way forward | ||
Exhibitors
Registrations are closed
Registrations have closed. The event will be live streamed both days - please check the top of the page to tune in.
Photography and filming
There will be photography and/or filming at this event and your image may be captured by us and used for communications purposes in print or on our website if you consent to it during registration. You can revoke your consent at any time.