Briefing

ICAO Council discussion on including aviation in the EU-ETS

October 31, 2011

On 2 November, the governing body of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is scheduled to discuss a paper put forward by 26 countries calling for the adoption of a joint declaration against the inclusion of aviation emissions in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) from 2012, originally signed in New Delhi on 30 September.

The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is a programme aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by trading and selling emissions permits on a free market. In the first phase of the scheme, around 10,000 major land-based emitters such as power stations, and metal factories were included.

Airlines will be included in the EU ETS as of 1 January 2012. Airlines will have to surrender allowances covering the emissions of all flights they have operated in a given year that departed and/or arrived at an EU airport.

The background briefing explains events leading up to the declaration and links to a legal case brought by three American airlines against the EU.

Related Articles

View All
Chapter 3.png
Press Release

Corporate travel reduced by a third on 2019 levels despite increased flying by Merck, Bosch and JPMorgan Chase

Business travel emissions of 239 global companies fell by 34% since 2019, but disproportionate flying by Merck, Bosch, JPMorgan Chase and other top po...

Publication

Explore our interactive page

Contrails and aviation's other hidden emissions

Aviation's little-known pollution problem

Report

T&E's annual overview of key transport trends, challenges and achievements

State of Transport 2025

European transport is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, but electric vehicles are on the charge as the EU’s green policies start to bite. Powerin...