Google improves credibility of Google Flights emission estimates with ICCT partnership
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) research shows passengers can reduce per trip CO2 by up to 60 per cent by choosing a lower-emitting itinerary. This is due to various differences including aircraft type, seating configurations, load factors, and routing.
Since 2021, Google have been estimating and sharing air-travel-related greenhouse gas emissions on Google Flights powered by their Travel Impact Model (TIM). These estimates help passengers to make informed decisions around the climate impact of their flight choices, increasing transparency and awareness.
Working to improve the quality and credibility of their estimates, Google is introducing an independent Advisory Committee (AC) to oversee and improve the TIM with the ICCT serving as the Secretariat of this new committee. The AC experts have been selected from key industry stakeholders including airlines, academia, leading academics, government representatives, and civil society.
- Jill Blickstein, Vice President, Sustainability, American Airlines
- Tim Johnson, Director, Aviation Environment Federation
- Jane Ashton, Sustainability Director, easyJet
- Achilleas Achilleos, Strategic Programme Officer, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (non-voting board observer)
- Kevin Welsh, Executive Director, Environment & Energy, Federal Aviation Administration (non-voting board observer)
- Dr. Marc Stettler, Reader in Transport and the Environment, Imperial College London
- Dr. Daniel Rutherford, Aviation Program Director, International Council on Clean Transportation (non-voting Secretariat representative)
- Caroline Drischel, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Lufthansa Group
- Prof. Steven Barrett, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Andrew Chen, Principal, Aviation Decarbonization, Rocky Mountain Institute
- Sally Davey, Chief Executive Officer, Travalyst
From this July, the TIM Advisory Committee will regularly meet to refine the model, incorporating the latest scientific knowledge. Through increasing the accuracy of the estimates, passengers can better understand the impact of their flights, empowering people to make more sustainable choices.
For more on sustainability see:
- The sustainability benefits of JAL’s “Any Wear, Anywhere”
- Going green: Sustainability initiatives at Pittsburgh Airport
- Interview with Andreas Slettvoll, CEO CHOOOSE – Sustainability and regional trends
