TOWARDS REGULATION OF DEVASTATING AVIATION EMISSION: AN ANALYSIS OFTHE CONTAMINANTS OF AVIATION EMISSION, ITS GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND THE LEGAL REGIME

Abstract

Throughout the world, aviation transportation is noted to be increasing steadily largely because globalization of world economy and economic growth, have made air transportation affordable for a large number of populations in the world. The increase in growth of air transportation has led to increase in volume of aviation emission being discharged on the earth surface. This emission however, has severe consequences on the global environment inform of pollution of the atmosphere, stratosphere and lithosphere with high level of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and others. It has been observed that though aviation emission initially constitutes only 2% of the world’s total greenhouse emission, it has now become the fastest growing source of anthropogenic greenhouse emission. This is because aviation emission from annex 1 countries rose by 67% between 1991 and 2005 and is estimated to rise by as much as 90% when aviation emissions from non -annex 1 countries are included for the period. The problem is that the potential threat of aviation emission to the global environment is said to be so much unless it is regulated. This paper therefore, analyses the contaminants of aviation emission and its impact on human lives and the global environment. It also discusses the international laws introduced to curb its escalating growth.  A doctrinal research approach is applied to collect information from primary and secondary sources on the above. . The paper recommends that effective implementation of the international legal regime will guarantee effective reduction of aviation emission.