EU doubles down on carbon tax for international flights

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🗞️ Driving the news: The European Commission plans to push ahead with carbon pricing for international flights departing from the EU, setting up a potential clash with the U.S. and the aviation industry

🔭 The context: The EU Emissions Trading System currently applies only to intra-EU flights, leaving most aviation emissions from long-haul routes outside its scope
• Brussels is now considering extending the ETS to all departing flights from Europe, while assessing how this would interact with the UN’s CORSIA aviation offsetting system

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Aviation remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize, and long-haul flights account for a major share of its climate impact
• Expanding carbon pricing could create stronger incentives for cleaner fuels, efficiency improvements and lower-emission travel, while ensuring airlines pay more fully for their emissions

⏭️ What’s next: The Commission’s ETS review is expected in July. Airlines are lobbying against the move, warning of higher costs and trade tensions, while the EU says any rules would apply equally to European and non-European carriers

💬 One quote: “We do have effective carbon pricing for the full share of EU emissions.” — Polona Gregorin, European Commission

📈 One stat: Transport & Environment estimates the expanded ETS could have raised €12.7 billion from aviation last year

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