Event

Sustainable Skies Conference: Contrails in Focus

In collaboration with
CANSO
Sustainable Skies Conference 2023

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 are pleased to announce the Sustainable Skies Conference: Contrails in Focus, which will take place at EUROCONTROL's Brussels headquarters on 7-8 November 2023.

The overall goal of the event is 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 will:

  • take stock of the current state of knowledge on the topic;
  • explore the state-of-the-art methods for detecting and monitoring contrails and cirrus clouds;
  • look 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
  • discuss possible ways of minimising contrail formation and the challenges of operationalising mitigation measures at scale.

The first day will focus on presenting the latest scientific insights and ongoing research on contrails, while the second day will feature panel debates and more strategic discussions.

Outcome

Following the Conference, EUROCONTROL and CANSO, together with the conference speakers, will draft a document outlining the latest advancements in contrail science and mitigation.

Agenda

Time Session  
09:00 - 10:00 Registration & Welcome coffee
10:00 - 10:15 Welcome and Setting the scene
 
 
10:15 - 10:35 What are contrails?  
10:35 - 11:15 Contrails versus CO2  
11:15 - 11:30 Non CO2 effects of aviation  
11:30 - 12:15 How can we detect and verify contrails?
12:15 - 13:15 Lunch break
13:15 - 14:00 How can we detect and verify contrails? (cont.)  
14:00 - 14:10 Guest speaker  
14:10 - 15:00 Coffee break and tour of exhibits
15:00 - 16:30 Prediction of contrails formation and their impact on climate  
16:30 - 17:30 Contrails Research Roadmap
17:30 - 18:00 Day 1 wrap-up  
Time Session  
08:00 - 09:00 Registration & Welcome coffee
09:00 - 09:10 Opening remarks and Introduction
 
 
09:10 - 09:30 Setting the scene: Non-CO2 monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV)  
09:30 - 10:15 Panel discussion on non-CO2 MRV  
10:15 - 11:00 Coffee break and tour of exhibits
11:00 - 12:30 Operational mitigating strategies (reduction and avoidance)  
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 - 14:45 Operational mitigating strategies (panel discussion) (cont.)  
14:45 - 15:00 Q&A session
15:00 - 15:20 Coffee break
15:20 - 15:50 Verification of mitigation actions  
15:50 - 17:00 Way forward (panel discussion)  
17:00 - 17:20 Conference wrap-up and concluding remarks  
17:30 End of conference

Register

A livestream will be made available for those unable to join in person. However, in-person attendance is highly recommended for greater networking and exchange opportunities among participants and the possibility of visiting the exhibits which will run in parallel to the conference, showcasing the latest research and innovative solutions that the industry is working on to tackle contrails.

Which day(s) would you like to attend?
 

A hybrid event

You have the choice to attend it physically (at EUROCONTROL's Brussels Headquarters), or virtually (live on one of our streaming platforms or social media channels).


In order to comply with our security measures while coming on-site, we would also need some additional information from you. To this extent, please fill in hereunder your date of birth and nationality. Such information will be solely used for security reasons as specified above.

Photo and consent
I consent to be photographed and captured on video during this event, and that pictures will be made available on the EUROCONTROL website and social media channels including YouTube, according to this Privacy statement. I am aware that I can withdraw my consent request at any moment and request that an image is removed by contacting the Corporate Events Team
We take data management seriously.
Read the privacy statement here.

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.