The proposed methodology enables technology-based mitigation of warming caused by aircraft contrail cirrus. These clouds, composed of ice crystal hydrometeors, act as short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs). Persistent warming contrails form in ice-supersaturated regions (ISSR), creating a net warming effect equivalent to ~1% of total anthropogenic climate impact, or ~650 MTCO2e annually. To address this, the methodology provides a process to mitigate existing flight plans to avoid ISSR. The resulting mitigated radiative impact is then converted into CO2e and issued by Gold Standard as Certified Mitigation Outcome Units (CMOU).
Scope
- Applicability: Technology-based navigational activities, mitigating contrail-induced radiative forcing.
- Stakeholders: Aircraft operators, OEMs, lessors, finance organisations, fuel producers, ANSPs, and airports.
- Implementation: Any aircraft operator with in-service operational data using performance-based operational flight plans (OFP).
Gold Standard invites feedback from stakeholders on the proposed methodology in general.