A milestone for global aviation? Or a smokescreen from a sector that doesn’t want to go green fast enough?
ICAO, the UN organization for civil aviation, concluded an ambiguous agreement last week on making air traffic more sustainable. At its triennial meeting in Montreal, members agreed to fly climate neutral the global goal is. At the same time, ICAO left its only instrument to tackle the emission of harmful substances worldwide strongly watered down.
Aviation now produces about 3 percent of global CO2emissions. That share will increase in the coming years, especially as air traffic is increasing, especially outside Europe and North America. Aviation is also much less advanced with greening (electricity, hydrogen) than road and rail transport. Finally, there are the harmful effects of other greenhouse gases. This ‘non-CO2effect’ is also a major contributor to climate change, but is often ignored by airlines and policy makers.
Dutch ambitions
In Canada, the 193 ICAO member states agreed that international aviation must fly climate neutral (‘net zero’) by 2050. Last year, the airlines set a similar goal. “It is very good news that ICAO has decided to reduce the CO2emissions to net zero by 2050,” said Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management, VVD) through his spokesperson. Harbers was on September 27 and 28 at the ICAO summit.
“This also ties in with the Dutch ambitions for aviation, and those of the EU,” says Harbers. Among other things, the cabinet wants to shrink at Schiphol in order to reduce noise pollution and emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and particulate matter. The Netherlands also levies more tax on airline tickets. “This is a historic result,” said Harbers. “There is still a lot to be worked out in the coming years, but this is an important first step.”
Compromise
European Commissioner Adina Valean (Transport) was moderately positive. “A single, global goal for an international industry like aviation provides security for the industry, investors and countries involved.”
However, the Commission had come to Montreal with more ambitious goals. Making compromises is simply part of negotiations, a spokesperson said a few days after the agreement. “The EU will continue to play a leading role and also wants to support other countries in their efforts to make aviation more sustainable.”
It was still exciting whether the year 2050 would be in the final text. China, India and also Russia – partly because of the invasion of Ukraine from the board of ICAO – prefer to be ‘net zero’ only in 2060 or 2070. They fear that the growth of their domestic aviation and their national economy will stagnate due to climate measures.
Less compensation
ICAO does not know how aviation should achieve the climate goals. The UN organization itself has hardly any means to enforce measures.
In Montreal, ICAO even had its only instrument that exists worldwide to force airlines, airports and passengers to reduce their emissions. That system is called Corsia: Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. Before that, aviation agreed three years ago that international growth from 2021 may only be climate neutral.
Airlines will have to reduce their CO . within a few years2emissions as soon as they exceed a certain calibration value. It is precisely that benchmark that has now been changed in such a way that aviation has to compensate less.
The European nature and environmental organization Transport & Environment (T&E) has already calculated that travelers under Corsia from 2030 an amount of 2.40 euros would have to pay extra for a ticket from Europe to North America. Far too little, according to T&E. The conditions that ICAO has now agreed to reduce that surcharge once more: ‘climate neutral’ flying from Amsterdam to New York will only cost 1.70 euros extra. The surcharge is used to ‘buy off’ emissions. In other words: compensate for a flight by planting a tree.
Also read: Book a ticket, plant a tree? It’s not that simple
Forest fires
CO2compensation has been under fire for some time; it makes little sense, critics say. Trees are cut down or fall prey to forest fires and diseases. „European companies mislead passengers with claims that they can fly guilt-free as long as they offset the emissions,” Carbon Market Watch said Monday.
This Brussels environmental organization let the compensation programs from eight major airlines research in Europe. Initiatives from Air France, British Airways, easyJet, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair, SAS and Wizz Air were examined. Together they accounted for half of the CO . in 2019.2emissions from European aviation. According to Carbon Market Watch, most carriers assume “cheap, little transparent and vulnerable forestry projects” with little or no guarantees that emissions will be offset for a longer period of time. The organization wants the EU to oblige companies to be transparent about this. In addition, they must stop ‘misleading advertisements’ for ‘carbon neutral’ flights. In the Netherlands, the organization Fossielvrij NL to court to get KLM to stop with ‘misleading advertisements about sustainable flying’.
Smokescreen
According to Transport & Environment, the new ICAO agreements mean that only 22 percent of international aviation emissions will be offset by 2030. “Let’s not pretend that a non-binding target will bring aviation to zero emissions,” said Jo Dardenne of T&E. “If countries and companies take these goals seriously, they must stop opposing the EU and its plans to reduce CO2to price emissions.
Also read: No more combustion engine in cars, end of luxury position for aviation; these are the EU’s climate plans
The Commission wants to expand the EU ETS emissions trading system for aviation. Airlines have to buy – or go green – emission rights if they want to emit more. Expansion of the EU ETS is part of the climate plan ‘Fit for 55’ of European Commissioner Frans Timmermans. He also wants to tax kerosene and require aircraft to use more sustainable kerosene (sustainable aviation fuelSAF).
The airline companies are willing to use more SAF. In principle, this fuel can be used in the current aircraft without technical modifications. But SAF is expensive and limited availability. The airlines also emphasize that newer aircraft are cleaner and quieter anyway.
Dardenne: “The ICAO decision shows that the organization continues to adapt its measures to benefit industry and not the climate. Countries, especially the EU, need to see through this smokescreen and move forward with real green measures.”