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Flight CO2 Emissions Calculator

Calculate annual CO2 emissions from your flights: short, medium, and long haul with DEFRA emission factors.

Sources: DEFRA 2024 — UK Government GHG Conversion Factors · ICAO — Carbon Emissions Calculator · EEA — Transport and Environment Report

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How the Flight CO2 Emissions Calculator Works

This tool estimates the annual CO2 emissions from your air travel, broken down by short, medium, and long haul. The calculation uses official DEFRA 2024 emission factors from the UK government, which include the Radiative Forcing Index (RFI) to account for the amplified impact of emissions at high altitude.

How Flight Emissions Are Calculated

The calculation is based on three elements for each flight category:

  1. Average round-trip distance: short haul 1,800 km, medium haul 5,000 km, long haul 14,000 km
  2. DEFRA factor: short 0.255 kg CO2/km, medium 0.195 kg CO2/km, long 0.150 kg CO2/km
  3. Emissions = Number of flights x Round-trip distance x Emission factor

The decreasing per-km factors reflect that takeoff and landing are the most fuel-intensive phases: on long flights they account for a smaller share of total distance.

The Impact of Aviation on Climate

Aviation accounts for about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions and 3.5% of total climate warming (including non-CO2 effects). For an individual, even a few flights per year can represent the largest share of their personal carbon footprint.

How to Reduce Your Flight Impact

  • Prefer trains for trips under 600 miles (1,000 km)
  • Reduce unnecessary flights and consider video conferencing
  • Choose direct flights: layovers increase emissions due to additional takeoffs
  • Fly economy: business/first class has up to 3x the footprint per passenger
  • Offset remaining emissions with Gold Standard or VCS certified projects

Frequently Asked Questions

How much CO2 does a flight produce?▼
Emissions depend on distance and travel class. A short-haul round trip produces about 459 kg CO2 per passenger, a medium-haul about 975 kg, and a long-haul about 2,100 kg. These values include the Radiative Forcing Index (RFI), which accounts for the amplified impact of emissions at high altitude.
What is the Radiative Forcing Index (RFI)?▼
RFI is a multiplier (typically 1.9-2.0) that accounts for the fact that emissions released at high altitude have a greater climate effect than those at ground level. Beyond CO2, aircraft engines produce water vapor, nitrogen oxides, and contrails that amplify the greenhouse effect. The DEFRA factors used here already include RFI.
How can I offset my flight emissions?▼
Options include purchasing carbon credits from certified projects (Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard), supporting reforestation projects, or investing in renewable energy. A mature tree absorbs about 22 kg of CO2 per year. Offsetting is useful but does not replace reduction: preferring trains for short trips and reducing unnecessary flights are the most effective actions.