Aviation’s Environmental Impact Under the Microscope

As European aviation emissions rapidly rebound to levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns are mounting over the industry’s environmental accountability. A recent study by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that the aviation sector has almost fully recovered,reaching 96% of 2019 flight numbers and 98% of emissions [1][2]. This resurgence is placing increased pressure on the European Union to enforce stricter environmental regulations and address the true cost of aviation pollution.

Key Findings: emissions and Top Polluters

• Rapid Recovery: European airline emissions are nearly back to pre-COVID-19 levels, with intra-European flights already exceeding those levels [1][2].
• major Emitters: Ten companies are responsible for 40% of all European aviation emissions.
• Top 3 Culprits:
  • Ryanair: 16 million tonnes of CO2
  • Lufthansa: 10 million tonnes of CO2
  • British Airways: 9 million tonnes of CO2
• Positive Note: among the top 10, only Air France managed to slightly reduce emissions compared to 2023.

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS): A Missed Opportunity?

The EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), designed to curb pollution by pricing carbon emissions, is under scrutiny for its limited scope. According to T&E, a significant portion of aviation emissions remains unpriced.

70% of the emissions issued by aviation on the Old Continent were thus not priced last year.

The primary reason? Flights with non-European destinations are exempt from the ETS.

T&E highlights the inequity:

The most polluting journeys from Europe in 2024 are all intercontinental, with London-New York at the top of the list… However, no company had to pay these programs on these roads which are not counted on the carbon markets of the EU, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.

The organization estimates that extending the ETS to include extra-European flights could have generated an additional 7.5 billion euros in 2024.

Calls for Reform and Concerns Over “Climate Hindsight”

The European Union is scheduled to review its ETS next year, presenting an opportunity to address these shortcomings. Krisztina Hencz, a specialist in the air sector at T&E, urges policymakers to seize this moment:

This is an opportunity to remedy this fundamental gap by extending the scope to all flights from Europe.

However, Hencz expresses concern over what she sees as signs of hindsight within the aviation sector, noting that the bosses of large airlines regularly call on the EU to weaken its rules in terms of carbon pricing.

Hencz is critical of the industry’s approach to emissions reduction:

Aviation emissions escape any control… To do not fix anything, the sector continues to dodge the real cost of its pollution, which is deriving the promises made by airlines to build more ecological planes after the COVVI.

She warns that if Europe maintains its current course, the vision of “green” aviation will remain a simple view of the mind.

FAQ: Aviation Emissions and the Environment

What percentage of global CO2 emissions is civil aviation responsible for?

Approximately 2.5%.

What is the aviation industry’s goal for carbon neutrality?

Carbon neutrality by 2050.

How do airlines plan to achieve carbon neutrality?

primarily through the use of sustainable fuels and the adoption of electric or hydrogen aircraft.

What is the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)?

A system designed to limit pollution by pricing carbon emissions.

Why is the EU ETS criticized in relation to aviation?

As it does not include flights with non-European destinations,leaving a significant portion of emissions unpriced.