EU Weighs Carbon Market for International Flights as ETS Cuts Slow in 2030s
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 12
EU Weighs Carbon Market for International Flights as ETS Cuts Slow in 2030s
7 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 12
Flights departing the EU could be brought into the bloc’s carbon market under a European Commission review, expanding carbon pricing beyond the current system that covers only flights within Europe.
Polona Gregorin said the change would price more aviation emissions and equalize treatment across routes, as Brussels reassesses whether the U.N.’s CORSIA offset scheme can deliver cuts consistent with EU climate goals.
The proposal risks renewed friction with trade partners including the United States, which fought the EU’s 2011 attempt to extend carbon charges to international aviation.
The aviation review is part of a broader ETS redesign that could keep free permits for some industries longer and slow the pace of emissions cuts in the 2030s amid competitiveness concerns.
Will the EU's new rules finally force long-haul flyers to pay the same carbon price as short-haul travelers?
Can the EU expand its carbon market to global flights without provoking a trade war with the United States?
Is Brussels' plan to ease carbon costs a lifeline for industry or a major setback for Europe's climate targets?
The EU’s 2026 ETS Overhaul: Carbon Pricing for International Flights and the Battle for Climate Ambition
Overview
The European Union is at a pivotal moment in its climate policy as it prepares for the 2026 review of its Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). A major proposal aims to extend carbon pricing to all international flights departing from the EU, targeting a sector that has been difficult to decarbonize. This expansion is seen as a defining climate test for the EU, with the goal of further reducing aviation emissions. The outcome of this review will not only shape the future of European climate action but also set a global precedent for addressing aviation emissions.