Easyjet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have joined forces to fight back against an attempt by their long-haul rivals to limit the scope of new EU rules on non-CO2 emissions.
The European Union (EU) is introducing groundbreaking rules that will require airlines to report the amount of their non-CO2 emissions, such as contrails left behind by aircraft.
IATA, the airline industry’s main trade association, has been privately pushing the EU to soften the requirements amid growing concerns in the aviation community. It argues the system should be voluntary and apply only to flights within Europe.
But in a joint letter to the European Commission, the City AMThe cheap trio put their rivalry aside to attack attempts to restrict the plans.
“We do not understand the intent behind this attempt to undermine the MRV system and why significant parts of the industry are unwilling to advance the scientific understanding of non-CO2 effects,” they wrote, claiming IATA’s view was not representative of the majority of Europe’s largest airlines.
It goes on to say that limiting the regulation to flights within the EU, which is the main market for Easyjet, Ryanair and Wizz Air, would result in a significant loss of data needed to truly understand the issue.
In recent years, the aviation industry has faced increasingly strict restrictions on its enormous carbon dioxide emissions. Less is known about the effects of contrails, nitrogen oxides and sulphur.
The letter said the MRV program would “support the development of a robust scientific evidence base” and “advance policy development.”
Intercontinental flights account for six percent of all trips from Europe but cause 52 percent of CO2 emissions. “A credible EU policy cannot allow their non-CO2 impacts, which are likely to be even greater due to the location and timing of these flights, to go unmeasured,” the trio of airlines said.
In recent years, contrails have received particular public attention due to their impact on global warming. The seemingly harmless white lines formed by moist layers of air are responsible for about 35 percent of global aviation emissions.
Some studies estimate that up to ten percent of the skies over the North Atlantic could be covered by contrail cirrus clouds, which are mainly caused by long-distance flights.
Krisztina Toth, aviation policy manager at campaign group Transport & Environment, said: “Non-CO2 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. A monitoring tool provides a much-needed first step that will contribute to a better understanding of the overall climate impact of aviation.”
“But some established airlines are lobbying to water down the proposal and block any action that would finally allow us to understand and address the problem.”
IATA and the European Commission were asked for their opinion.
