Top Ten Charts: August Edition 📈

New month, new OneChart! 

August was pretty intense for me, as several publications long in the making—powered by my agency, Research+Attitude—finally went live. 

So, fair warning: this edition of the month’s top ten data charts might be a bit biased. 

Chart #1: Measuring Airlines' Net-Zero Commitments ✈️

Our first chart this month is one I’m particularly proud of. 

Collaborating with the Sustainable Aero Lab , my Research+Attitude team and I co-developed the Net-Zero Airline Ranking—an industry-first attempt to measure airlines’ progress toward net-zero emissions based on concrete, measurable data. 

You can explore the full details at airline-ranking.com.

Using an unconventional basket of metrics, we aimed to assess airlines' current and future climate innovation commitments. 

The ranking sparked some very interesting discussions online—especially on LinkedIn, and was also picked up by the media, including PhocusWire

While feedback ranged from constructive to critical, it’s clear this approach is not without its challenges (which we transparently outline in our methodology section). 

But the true value of this ranking lies less in the order of airlines and more in encouraging the industry to finally start thinking about measuring net-zero commitment in transparent and accountable ways.

Our hope? 

To have played a minor yet pivotal role in motivating the industry to start reporting meaningful sustainability metrics, rather than relying on marketing messages that do little more than trigger regulators to punish the industry. 

Charts #2, 3, 4, & 5: The Harsh Reality of Airline Net-Zero Aspirations 🌍

Sticking with the Net-Zero Airline Ranking for a moment, the core motivation behind initiating this much-needed debate on how to measure airlines' sustainability efforts is rooted in a series of stark facts and statistics. 

These figures highlight the current state of net-zero aspirations within the airline industry—aspirations that increasingly resemble unrealistic illusions.

The key problem? 

Total CO2 emissions from the airline industry continue to rise, even as other modes of transportation have found ways to decarbonize.

Why is this happening? 

The uncomfortable truth is that improvements in energy efficiency are failing to keep pace with the surging energy demand driven by record passenger numbers.

So, how can the industry reverse this trend? 

Every available lever must be pulled to reduce emissions. This includes fostering fleet renewals, maximizing operational efficiencies, and accelerating the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

However, even if all of these strategies are fully activated, they still won’t be enough to reach net zero.

Analysis based on Boeing's Cascade forecasting dashboard reveals that even super aggressive fleet renewals, extreme operational efficiencies, and maximized SAF adoption could collectively address just slightly over 60% of aviation's 2050 CO2 output.

This leaves a daunting 40% shortfall from the needed net-zero target.

The key takeaways:

• Without a drastic increase in effort and commitment, the airline industry is on track to miss its lofty net-zero projections. 
• Real progress requires substantial action and massive investments in breakthrough technologies.

So, the sustainability challenge facing aviation is not merely an advocacy issue; it’s fundamentally a technological hurdle.

Real change demands radical innovation. 

And what drives innovation? Capital. Investments in pioneering SAF facilities, funding groundbreaking research into electric propulsion, and other initiatives aimed at revolutionizing our existing paradigms are paramount.

How much investment would be needed? 

It’s a question no one can definitively answer. 

However, credible estimates from entities like International Civil Aviation Organization suggest that achieving net zero for the aviation sector could cost a staggering $5 trillion USD by 2050, translating to an annual net-zero innovation budget of $175 billion USD.

Chart #6: The Titanic’s Future Relatives 🛳️

Enough about aviation—let's switch gears to another transportation segment: cruise ships.

The cruise industry arguably faces challenges similar to aviation. 

• Demand for cruise trips is skyrocketing.
• Yet, current technology struggles to meet the energy demands required to electrify ships—especially as these vessels grow larger and larger.

Here’s an interesting fact: The world’s largest cruise ships are now twice as big as they were in 2000.

And if this trend continues, by 2050, the largest cruise ships could be almost eight times bigger than the Titanic, capable of carrying nearly 11,000 passengers, as T&E illustrated.

Chart #7: The AV Tipping Point? 🚗

From the sea to the streets of California.

A recurring theme in previous OneChart editions has been the uncertain future of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). 

• For nearly a decade, autonomous driving has been predicted to become a reality "in the next five years." The problem? This five-year outlook hasn’t changed since 2015, leading some experts to wonder if we’ll ever actually reach that milestone.
• However, as highlighted in OneChart’s July edition, despite the skepticism, AVs have emerged as the hottest and most-funded tech sector in 2024 so far, signaling a renewed belief among investors that a breakthrough might finally be on the horizon.

Recent data, as presented by Exponential View , supports this growing optimism.

• San Francisco has seen a tenfold increase in Waymo rides taken over the past ten months. 
• Meanwhile, in Wuhan—aiming to become “the world’s first driverless city”—around three in every 100 taxis are now robotaxis, developed by Baidu Apollo.

As Waymo expands beyond San Francisco, its numbers are growing rapidly. 

Earlier this month, the company announced that it provides 100,000 paid rides per week across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, doubling its ride volume in just two months.

Chart #8: The Rise of Chinese Auto Brands 🇨🇳

One of the most fascinating trends in the automotive industry right now is the rapid rise of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brands.

Within China, the speed at which foreign auto brands are losing market share to domestic contenders (chart posted by Max J. Zenglein), primarily EV manufacturers, is truly remarkable (and scary from a Western perspective). 

It's hard to envision a turnaround despite the desperate efforts of many Western companies hoping to regain their past dominance in the Chinese market.

Chart #9: The Long Road of the EV Revolution ⚡

Speaking of the electric vehicle transition, I stumbled upon an interesting overview from McKinsey & Company that tracks the emergence of EVs over the past 20 to 25 years.

While I’m typically not a huge fan of the Gartner Hype Cycle framework, this particular overview offers valuable insights into the EV journey.

It’s a good reminder of a recurring theme in tech: 

We often overestimate the impact of new technologies in the short term but underestimate their transformative power in the long run.

Chart #10: The Real Cost of Commuting ⏳

The final chart for today isn’t a real trend chart, but it's transportation-related, and it made me smile when I saw it, so I wanted to share it with you.

The key message? 

If you experience a catastrophic event in your life, you typically return to your previous level of happiness over time. 

But there’s one thing you never get used to: a long commute.

Interestingly, there’s real research that quantifies the impact of commuting on happiness levels.

Studies have found that cutting an hour-long commute each way out of your life has the same [happiness] impact as making an extra $40,000 a year—if you’re in the $50,000 to $60,000 salary range.

With that said, I hope your commute is manageable these days. 

Mine? 

It’s mostly from the coffee machine in the kitchen to my desk—gotta love the home office life!