Aviation Greenwashing Fact Sheet - Hydrogen Flight

Scientific Reports

Grades9, 10, 11, 12Science, Economics

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Stay Grounded

Open Resource

What it is

This fact sheet debunks common greenwashing techniques in the aviation industry related to hydrogen flight.

Teaching tips

Positives

Teaching your students how to see through greenwashing is one of the best gifts you can give them.
The infographic clearly shows the limited potential of hydrogen aircraft.

Prerequisites

This is part of a series of greenwashing fact sheets from Stay Grounded.
Stay Grounded is a Europe-based network of groups aiming to reduce emissions from aviation.
Students may need some terms defined before they read this, such as contrails, emissions, and others.

Differentiation & Implementation

In English class, students could research print and video marketing materials from aircraft manufacturers to spot greenwashing related to hydrogen-powered flight. Student could share materials with the rest of the class while playing "Spot the Greenwash."
In economics class, students could research the cost-benefit analysis of investing in hydrogen-powered aircraft.
You could also share this video that explains greenwashing and how to see through greenwashing.
Other greenwashing fact sheets from Stay Grounded include efficiency improvements, electric flight, biofuels, and synthetic electro-fuels.

From the scientist review

The resource highlights the potentials of hydrogen aircraft and how they can transform the aviation industry. There is need for a just transition off fossil fuels and the potential of harnessing hydrogen-powered flights is a new technology to help reduce our carbon footprint in the coming decades. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Science, Economics
Format: PDF
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: Stay Grounded
Authors: Stay Grounded
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Eco.11.9-12 + 16 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Eco.11.9-12Use economic indicators to analyze the current and future state of the economy.
D2.Eco.15.9-12Explain how current globalization trends and policies affect economic growth, labor markets, rights of citizens, the environment, and resource and income distribution in different nations.
D3.2.9-12Evaluate the credibility of a source by examining how experts value the source.
D4.4.9-12Critique the use of claims and evidence in arguments for credibility.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.8Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.6Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness or beauty of the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.6Analyze a case in which grasping a point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or understatement).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.6Analyze the author's purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text, identifying important issues that remain unresolved.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.10By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.6Evaluate authors' differing points of view on the same historical event or issue by assessing the authors' claims, reasoning, and evidence.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

HS-ESS3-2.Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
HS-ESS3-C.2.Scientists and engineers can make major contributions by developing technologies that produce less pollution and waste and that preclude ecosystem degradation. (HS-ESS3-4)

Michigan Climate Education Hub

Michigan K-12 ELA Standards

RI.9-10.8.Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning.
RSLSTS.11-12.10.By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Michigan K-12 Science Standards

HS-ESS3-2Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.

Michigan K-12 Standards Social Studies

9-12P3.4 Critique the use of reasoning, sequence, and supporting details in creating a claim and the subsequent evidence used to support a claim for credibility.
E2.1.2 Economic Indicators – using a number of indicators, such as gross domestic product (GDP), per capita GDP, unemployment rates, and consumer price index, analyze the current and future state of an economy.

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