This informational sheet discusses common misconceptions and myths about the aviation industry related to efficiency improvements.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The four graphs in the infographic show the stark reality of the growth of the aviation industry.
This PDF file can be used offline or downloaded.
Additional Prerequisites
This is part of a series of greenwashing fact sheets from Stay Grounded.
Stay Grounded is a Europe-based network of groups aiming to reduce emissions from aviation.
Differentiation
Groups of students could analyze one of the four graphs in the infographic and explain it to the rest of the class.
In government or civics class, you could use this fact sheet to facilitate a discussion using the guiding question, "How should society incentivize other forms of travel to reduce emissions from the aviation industry?"
Have students brainstorm other ways that the aviation industry could reduce their emissions and calculate the potential benefits to global greenhouse gas concentrations.
This fact sheet introduces students to the concept of Jevons Paradox. Have students investigate efficiency improvements in other sectors to see if this holds true and apply it to the aviation industry claims.
Scientist Notes
This resource contains data on the carbon footprint of the aircraft industry and the need to incentivize and regulate the sector to reduce its carbon footprint. Charts presented are valid and the resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Economics
D2.Eco.11.9-12 Use economic indicators to analyze the current and future state of the economy.
D2.Eco.15.9-12 Explain how current globalization trends and policies affect economic growth, labor markets, rights of citizens, the environment, and resource and income distribution in different nations.
Dimension 3: Gathering and Evaluating Sources
D3.2.9-12 Evaluate the credibility of a source by examining how experts value the source.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Science & Technical Subjects (6-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.10 By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
