The European Parliament gave its final agreement on rules imposing a minimum rate of green fuels for aircraft departing from the European Union (EU) in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from air transport. MEPs approved by 518 votes (97 votes against, 8 abstentions) the agreement concluded in April between Parliament negotiators and member states, which is part of the ambitious European climate plan.
It predicts that the fuels available at EU airports will have at least 2% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in their composition in 2025, then 6% in 2030, with a gradual increase to 70% by 2050 .
These sustainable fuels include synthetic fuels (made from hydrogen and CO2), renewable hydrogen, jet fuels made from waste gases and plastic waste, or even biofuels from agricultural residues, algae, biomass or used cooking oil (but not those from food crops or palm oil by-products).
The agreement also sets a minimum share of 1.2% of synthetic fuels in kerosene supplied by European airports in 2030-2031, then 5% in 2035, before reaching 35% in 2050. Finally, the text provides that most of the supply of kerosene for flights departing from the EU will be done at European airports, in order to limit emissions due to excessive fuel cargo and to prevent companies from circumventing the rules by sourcing from outside the EU.
Aviation, 4% of European greenhouse gas emissions
This new legislation could reduce CO emissions by around two thirds2 of European air transport by 2050 compared to the scenario where no measures would be taken, according to the Commission. Aviation represents around 4% of European greenhouse gas emissions.
The adopted text “lays the foundation” for the rise in power of the SAF, by giving “a clear signal” to investors and industrialists, welcomed five European aeronautics organizations (companies, airports, industry and service providers), while demanding “additional incentives to increase production” of these sustainable fuels in Europe.
“It is a technology that has proven itself in terms of climate. But given the sector’s growth forecasts, it is not realistic to imagine producing enough green fuels for all these flights.alarms Matteo Mirolo, of the NGO Transport & Environment, calling for drastic control of the use of air transport.
The agreement also opens the door to future consideration of emissions other than CO2 (sulphur, etc.), which represent two thirds of the climate impact of aviation. Another text of the European climate plan will make companies pay for CO emissions2 of their intra-European flights with the gradual disappearance of the free emissions quotas from which they benefited until now, coupled with an incentive mechanism in the event of the use of sustainable fuels.