Airline emissions climb but the polluters are not paying their share

A new report by Transport & Environment reveals that emissions from European aviation are now close to pre-pandemic levels but failings in the EU (and UK) Emissions Trading System means the airlines are not being penalised to the extent that perhaps they should.

Under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the UK ETS, airlines are required to pay for emissions caused by their flights within the European Economic Area and the UK respectively, but not for international flights which are covered separately under the global CORSIA (the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) scheme.

However, under the EU ETS, airlines must pay for almost all their emissions, while under CORSIA, they only need to purchase carbon offsets for the growth in their international emissions above 2020 levels.

CORSIA is intended to be less costly and easier to comply with in order to encourage global participation, especially by airlines in developing countries, while the EU ETS  is designed to drive real emissions reductions through higher compliance costs and tighter emissions caps.

Needless to say, the most polluting flights taking off within Europe are long-haul flights which contribute nothing to the EU ETS. T&E’s research has found that these flights represented around 70% of CO₂ emissions from aviation in Europe last year.

Krisztina Hencz, Aviation Policy Manager at T&E, said: ‘Aviation emissions are spiraling out of control. To add insult to injury, the sector continues to dodge the true cost of its pollution, making a mockery of airlines’ pledges to build back greener after COVID. If Europe continues down this path, ‘green’ aviation will remain a figment of people’s imaginations.’

Ahead of a review of EU carbon markets next year, T&E are calling for this loophole to be closed, a move which they believe would would have generated an additional €7.5 billion last year.

Hencz added: ‘Relying on CORSIA to cover international emissions from aviation is a false economy. It is by far the worst option, both environmentally and financially. An extended EU ETS would deliver the greatest positive impact for European economies, alongside having the largest environmental benefits.

‘Next year’s review of EU carbon markets is a chance to rectify a loophole in the current legislation and ensure airlines pay for the true cost of their pollution.’