The UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched a call for the environmental information that should be provided to people when they are considering flights, as well as how that information can be presented in a way that is clear, comparable and enables them to make informed choices about their travel options.

It follows consumer research  by the CAA in 2021, which found that consumers want more information on the environmental impact of aviation and on the impact of their own travel choices.

Some organisations currently provide environmental information, but there is not a standard approach to what information is provided, how it is calculated and displayed.

Standardising this approach will help people find reliable information when looking for and booking flights in a format that is understandable, increasing confidence to make decisions on whether and how they travel.

Views are being sought from a wide set of stakeholders, including commercial and general aviation industries, consumer groups, environmental organisations and others.

The work is part of the CAA’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, which supports the Government’s ‘Jet Zero’ strategy to deliver nett zero aviation by 2050.

The call for evidence can be accessed here. It runs until April 7. A consultation will launch later this year with a set of proposals based on the results.

“Better understanding the most effective type, format, and communication of environmental information will help us achieve the goal of supporting the government’s nett zero aviation target. I encourage everyone to help inform the way passengers are provided access to accurate and relevant information about the environmental impact of their flights,” says Nic Stevenson, Head of Strategy at the CAA. “That information plays a key role in regard to the choices consumers make, and providing trustworthy data enables more sustainable choices.”