New regulations mandating the increased use of sustainable fuels in the aviation industry across the European Union have been agreed upon by negotiators from member countries and the EU Parliament. The aim of these regulations is to facilitate the decarbonization of the sector.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, announced on Wednesday that the agreement reached by member states and the European Parliament requires suppliers to gradually blend sustainable aviation fuels with kerosene starting from 2025. The Commission emphasized that this move is projected to reduce aircraft carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2050 compared to a scenario where no action is taken. Additionally, it will yield climate and air quality benefits by reducing non-CO2 emissions.
According to the Commission, the aviation sector is responsible for 13.9% of transportation emissions in the EU, making it the second-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the sector after road transport. If the global aviation industry were considered a country, it would rank among the top 10 emitters.
This political agreement is part of the EU’s broader “Fit for 55” package, which aims to decrease emissions of gases contributing to global warming by at least 55% by 2030. The EU has also set a goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, requiring a 90% reduction in transport emissions compared to 1990 levels.
Frans Timmermans, the EU Commissioner in charge of the European Green Deal, stated, “The EU is setting all sectors on a pathway to climate neutrality, with the measures necessary to meet our 2030 and 2050 climate targets. The EU is ready for take-off towards a more sustainable future for aviation.”
Although emissions from the aviation sector experienced a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are expected to resume their upward trend. EU data reveals that between 2013 and 2019, these emissions increased by an average of 5% each year.
Under the newly agreed-upon regulations, at least 2% of all fuels supplied at airports must be sustainable by 2025, with this proportion rising to 70% by mid-century. The European Commission also emphasized that the EU jet fuel blend must contain a minimum share of the most advanced and environmentally friendly synthetic fuels, with this share increasing over time.
The agreement now awaits formal approval from EU lawmakers and member states before it can be implemented.
