F4EClim at EGU 2026: Advancing Robust Assessment of Aviation Climate Effects

The F4EClim project contributed to the 2026 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), where project coordinator Sigrun Matthes played an active role in advancing discussions on transport-related climate impacts and mitigation strategies through both scientific contributions and session co-organisation.

Prof. Matthes served as co-convenor of a thematic session dedicated to transport emissions and climate effects, helping to coordinate scientific exchange and discussions. The session covered a broad range of transport-related topics, with a dedicated focus on aviation climate impacts and mitigation options. It was well received by the scientific community, attracting more than 30 contributions and strong attendance throughout the day.

On Friday, 8 May 2026, the F4EClim showcased a poster within a thematic session, highlighting the project’s integrated workflow for assessing uncertainties in aviation climate impact modelling. The presented methodology combines statistical and probabilistic uncertainties originating from several principal sources. These include:

• Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) forecast spread and forecast skill, building on developments from the earlier SESAR project FlyATM4E;

• Representation of atmospheric processes in atmosphere–climate models;

• Reduced-complexity from regressions provided through an advanced meteorological (MET) service developed within the SESAR F4EClim project.

  
  

The integrated framework supports a more robust quantification of aviation climate effects by systematically accounting for uncertainties across modelling components and meteorological inputs. This work contributes to the broader objective of enabling climate-optimised aviation operations and supporting future decision-making tools for sustainable air transport.

The discussions during the EGU session demonstrated the growing interest within the research community in operational and policy-relevant approaches to reducing transport climate impacts, particularly in aviation. F4EClim’s contribution showcased how advanced meteorological services and uncertainty-aware modelling approaches can support the development of effective mitigation strategies.