Aviation has many benefits, connecting people and businesses and supporting the UK economy. It also has environmental impacts, notably aircraft noise, effects on local air quality, and contributions to climate change. The CAA has a role in managing these impacts and, where possible, reducing them, while keeping the system safe and efficient.
The UK has a legally binding target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and the Government is working with the aviation industry through the Jet Zero Taskforce to help it play its part in meeting that target. The Climate Change Committee's 7th Carbon Budget report shows that, as other sectors cut emissions faster, aviation’s share of total UK emissions is expected to grow unless efforts to decarbonise accelerate, which is why our regulatory and evidence roles matter.
As the UK’s independent aviation regulator, we enable and support the delivery of innovations that will reduce aviation emissions, oversee performance, and make sure environmental considerations are built into our decisions. Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy sets out how we work with government, industry, communities and international bodies to support cleaner technology, modernise airspace, report on performance (including noise), provide information to consumers, and reduce our own organisational footprint.
We assess, monitor and report on environmental performance across the sector. In December 2023 we published the first UK Aviation Environmental Review and we intend to update it regularly so the public and stakeholders can track progress on noise, air quality and climate.
On aviation noise, we provide independent technical advice to government (for example, on methods and evidence), and we also act as the decision‑maker on whether proposed airspace design changes can proceed. We keep these functions distinct: our advice supports policy; our regulatory decisions follow a published process and must take environmental objectives into account alongside safety and efficiency.
Our technical analysis is evidence‑led. The CAA develops and maintains the UK aircraft noise contour model (ANCON) on behalf of the Department for Transport, and applies established methods to monitor and model noise around airports. This helps ensure the information we publish is robust and accessible to non‑specialists.
Independent scrutiny is important. Our Environmental Sustainability Panel - a non‑statutory group of independent experts - acts as a “critical friend,” challenging and supporting us as we deliver the strategy.
Strategy and outcomes
Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy sets out how we work with partners across the aviation sector -government, industry, other regulators, academia, community groups, and non-governmental organisations in the UK and internationally - to reduce or mitigate aviation’s environmental impacts.
The Strategy focuses our action on seven priorities:
- Supporting innovation – enabling the safe development and introduction of new low-carbon aircraft technologies and fuels.
- Modernising airspace – co-leading changes that improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.
- Transparent reporting – publishing clear, accessible information on industry performance, including noise, and helping consumers understand the environmental impact of their travel choices.
- Policy advice – advising and supporting government on environmental policy at home and abroad.
- Leading by example – reducing the environmental footprint of our own operations.
- Local impact assessment – factoring in local environmental effects, such as air quality and biodiversity, when making regulatory decisions, and monitoring how the sector adapts to climate change.
- Environmental oversight – embedding environmental considerations into all relevant areas of our regulation.
The Strategy gives colleagues, stakeholders, and those we regulate a clear view of our remit, ambitions, and planned actions in the short and medium term, while setting our vision within the long-term challenge of climate change and the evolving approaches of government and industry.
We are currently reviewing the Strategy, with an updated version due for publication by the end of 2025. Until then, the existing strategy and its appendix remain available online.
Environmental Information Forum
This Forum has been set up to help inform communities around UK airports about the CAA’s work and priorities that relate to the environmental impacts of aviation at a strategic level, and to provide an opportunity for them to give feedback on this work. The Forum meets every 6 months, membership includes:
- Community representative from the Aviation Environment Federation (AEF);
- Local Authority representation from the Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group (SASIG);
- The Chair of the UK Airports Consultative Committee (UKACC); and
- The Chair and/or Noise leads from the Airport Consultative Committee (ACC) at several UK airports.
Members are asked to share this information with community stakeholders that they work with in their areas and to seek feedback from them on the issues raised.