Aviation affects our climate in complex ways. UNIC (Understanding the Non-CO₂ Impacts of DeCarbonised Aviation) will address key knowledge gaps to enable both science and policy to tackle them

Onera is France’s national aerospace research centre, a public research establishment with eight major facilities and approximately 2,000 employees, including 1,500 scientists, engineers and technicians. It operates Europe’s largest wind tunnel fleet and develops multidisciplinary models and tools for aerodynamics, reactive flows, combustion and emissions in aerospace applications within its Department for Multi-Physics for Energetics.

ENV-ISA is a European consultancy specializing in the environmental impacts of aviation. The firm possesses significant expertise in emissions measurement, instrument development, uncertainty analysis, metrology and standards development. It has substantial networks across EU institutions and a track record leading European framework-funded projects.

The ZHAW Centre for Aviation is Switzerland’s leading scientific research facility dedicated to aviation. Its research focus spans environmental impacts of aviation, air quality and urban climate studies, conducted through advanced instrumentation and computational methods. The Centre operates multiple specialized laboratories including engine emission measurement systems and wind tunnels.

Tampere University is Finland’s second-largest university, with 20,000 students and 330 professors. It conducts scientific research in technology, health and society. Its Aerosol Physics Laboratory specializes in aerosol technologies, measurement techniques, aerosol emissions and air quality, with state-of-the-art instrumentation for aerosol characterization.

Pegasor is a Finnish technology company specializing in monitoring and measurement solutions for particulate emissions. It develops robust sensors based on patented measurement technology suitable for environmental and industrial applications. The company brings expertise in real-time particulate matter sensing and measurement solutions adapted to varying atmospheric conditions.

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest university in Greece. It comprises 12 Faculties, 42 Schools and 289 Laboratories, conducting research across environment, computing, nanotechnology, telecommunications, transport, biotechnology and health sciences. The university participates in 48 research networks and implements more than 1,400 national, European and international research projects annually.

SMHI is Sweden’s governmental expert authority for meteorology, hydrology, oceanography and climatology. Its Research and Development department conducts applied research in environmental and climate modelling. The institute brings specialized expertise in atmospheric and climatic model development.

The National Research Council Canada is the country’s largest research and development organization. Its Flight Research Laboratory conducts advanced flight research in challenging atmospheric conditions, equipped with a comprehensive suite of airborne sensors and probes. Its Metrology Research Centre has extensive expertise in measurement science for demanding environments, including laser-based instrumentation and sensor development.

Cardiff University is part of the Russell Group and excels in research quality and impact. It hosts the Gas Turbine Research Centre, one of only a handful of academic facilities worldwide capable of testing combustion systems, components and fuels at gas-turbine-relevant temperatures and pressures. The Centre operates an extensive suite of bespoke test rigs, laser-based optical diagnostics and specialized instrumentation for characterizing combustion phenomena, fuel sprays and combustion emissions using traditional and alternative fuels.

The University of Helsinki is an international academic community with over 40,000 students and staff, typically ranking in the top 1% of international university rankings. Its Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research specializes in atmospheric and Earth system sciences. INAR develops and refines measurement techniques and modelling tools spanning scales from quantum chemistry to global Earth system observation.

The University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology is recognized internationally for research in climate science and meteorology. The department ranks first among UK universities in the Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. It conducts advanced research on the climate impacts of aviation and anthropogenic factors, contributing to international climate assessments. The Meteorology Department studies interactions across the spectrum from atmospheric turbulence to large-scale climate patterns.

Manchester Metropolitan University is recognized for research in aviation environmental impacts. The university maintains expertise in emissions modelling and measurements, with staff holding positions within standards and regulatory frameworks governing aviation emissions assessment internationally.