Members' Research Service By / November 13, 2017

CO2 emissions from aviation [Policy Podcast][EU Legislation in Progress]

CO2 emissions from all flights to and from airports in the European Economic Area (EEA) have been included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) since 2012.

© FlemishDreams / Fotolia
Written by Gregor Erbach (3rd edition), Updated on 23.1.2018
Globe with green airplane wing flying over a tropical cloudscape. Metaphor or concept of energy conservation and more efficient flying in the aviation industry to save energy and reduce CO2 output in order to combat global warming.
© FlemishDreams / Fotolia
CO2 emissions from all flights to and from airports in the European Economic Area (EEA) have been included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) since 2012. Although this would include flights between an airport within the EEA and an airport outside it, the application of the ETS to such flights was temporarily suspended, until the end of 2016, to allow for the development of emission-reduction measures with a global scope by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and to avoid conflicts with international trading partners. In October 2016, ICAO adopted a global market-based measure (GMBM), which would become operational in 2021. In February 2017, the European Commission proposed a regulation to prolong the derogation for extra-EEA flights, gradually reduce the number of aviation allowances from 2021 onwards, and prepare for the implementation of the GMBM. After its adoption by Council and Parliament, the regulation entered into force on 29 December 2017.

Interactive PDF

CO2 emissions from aviation
Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC to continue current limitations of scope for aviation activities and to prepare to implement a global market-based measure from 2021
Committee responsible: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) COM(2017) 54 3.2.2017 2017/0017(COD)

Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’)

Rapporteur: Julie Girling (ECR, United Kingdom)
Shadow rapporteurs:           Peter Liese (EPP, Germany) Seb Dance (S&D, United Kingdom) Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, The Netherlands) Merja Kyllönen (GUE/NGL, Finland) Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, The Netherlands) Mireille d’Ornano (ENF, France)
Procedure completed. Regulation (EU) 2017/2392 OJ L 350, 29.12.2017, pp. 7-14
Stage: adoption
Listen to podcast ‘CO2 emissions from aviation

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