{"id":110610,"date":"2022-06-17T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2022-06-17T08:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=110610"},"modified":"2022-06-17T10:31:26","modified_gmt":"2022-06-17T08:31:26","slug":"cutting-emissions-from-planes-and-ships-eu-actions-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/cutting-emissions-from-planes-and-ships-eu-actions-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Cutting emissions from planes and ships: EU actions explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Emissions from planes and ships are increasing, while the EU wants to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Read about EU measures to reduce their emissions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

Despite only accounting for about 8 % of the EU\u2019s total emissions, emissions from aviation and shipping are increasing<\/a>. In an effort to cut the EU\u2019s total emissions 55 % by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050, the EU has ambitious plans to counteract climate change. The legislative package called Fit for 55 aims to deliver the EU\u2019s Green Deal’s objectives<\/a>, includes proposals to reduce emissions from both sectors.<\/p>\n

Read more on\u00a0<\/em>EU targets and measures to cut emissions<\/em><\/a>
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Improving emissions trading for aviation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The EU has taken steps to\u00a0reduce aviation emissions<\/a>\u00a0through its\u00a0Emissions Trading System<\/a> (ETS). It applies so-called cap and trade rules for the aviation sector where airlines are required to surrender emissions allowances to cover their emissions. However, to avoid putting EU companies at a disadvantage, the Emissions Trading System currently only applies to flights within the European Economic Area – which covers all EU countries as well as Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway – and most of the allowances are distributed to the airlines for free.<\/p>\n

On 8 June 2022,\u00a0Parliament voted in favour of a revision of the Emissions Trading System for aviation<\/a>. To align greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the aviation sector with the Paris Agreement, MEPs call for the Emissions Trading System to apply to all flights departing from the European Economic Area, including flights landing outside the area.<\/p>\n

Parliament wants to phase out free the allocations for aviation before 2025, two years ahead of the European Commission\u2019s proposal. MEPs want to use 75 % of the revenues generated from the auctioning of allowances for aviation to support innovation and new technologies.<\/p>\n

It will now begin negotiations with EU countries on the final shape of the rules.<\/p>\n

Finding solutions for flights outside Europe<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So far, the Emissions Trading System has been suspended for flights departing or arriving outside the European Economic Area. The purpose is to allow time for the development of a comparable international system and to avoid conflicts with international partners.<\/p>\n

However, the EU is working with the\u00a0International Civil Aviation Organization<\/a>\u00a0to implement a global market-based measure, known as\u00a0Corsia<\/a>, whereby airlines can offset their emissions by investing in green projects, for example by planting trees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Taxonomy: MEPs object to Commission\u2019s plan to include gas and nuclear activities<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reducing emissions from maritime transport<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On 16 September 2020, MEPs voted in favour of\u00a0including maritime transport in the EU’s Emissions Trading System<\/a> as of 2022 and of setting binding requirements for shipping companies to reduce their CO2 emissions by at least 40 % by 2030.<\/p>\n

According to MEPs, the original Commission proposal to revise EU rules on the monitoring of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption from large ships in order to bring it in line with global rules was not ambitious enough given the urgent need to decarbonise all sectors of the economy.<\/p>\n

On 27 April 2021, the\u00a0Parliament reiterated the need for a substantial cut in emissions by the shipping industry<\/a>\u00a0and its inclusion in the EU’s Emissions Trading System. It also underlined the importance of assessing the impact on competitiveness, jobs and raised the potential risk of\u00a0carbon leakage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Parliament wants the following measures to help the maritime sector become cleaner and more efficient in the transition to a climate-neutral Europe:<\/p>\n