MEP and his Member States EUROPEAN UNION. agreed last night to reduce aviation emissions by setting a minimum percentage of green fuel on aircraft departing from Europe.
The text, which is one aspect of an ambitious European climate plan, stipulates that the fuel available at EU airports will include at least 2% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2025, then 6% in 2030 and gradually increase to 70% by 2050.specified in the statement of the European Parliament.
“Sustainable fuels” include synthetic fuels (derived from hydrogen and CO2), hydrogen, fuels from vehicle exhaust and plastic waste, or even biofuels derived from agricultural waste, algae, biomass, or used cooking oil.
The 2050 target falls short of the percentage requested by MEPs (85%), but clearly exceeds the original European Commission proposal (63%) that was ratified by states.
The agreement provides for a minimum share of synthetic fuels of 1.2% in kerosene supplied by European airports by 2030, much higher than the Commission and states have proposed (0.7%). This share will increase to 2% in 2032, then to 5% in 2035 and reach 35% in 2050.
Synthetic fuels are the only ones “whose use can be sustainably increased,” says Matteo Mirolo of the non-governmental organization Transport&Environment (T&E). By encouraging their production, “the agreement gives companies confidence that synthetic jet fuel (e-kerosene) will become less expensive and widely available,” he notes.
The text excludes biofuels derived from edible plants or palm oil by-products, but not biofuels derived from used vegetable oil, “whose supply is, however, limited in Europe, which could lead to shortages in other industries”, which could then switch to palm oil. oil, T&E reports, expressing concern.
The agreement opens the door for future legislative revisions on this issue to take into account not only carbon dioxide (but also sulfur and other) emissions, which account for two-thirds of aviation’s climate impact.
Another text of the European climate plan, which was ratified yesterday, Tuesday, by the 27th chambers, provides for forcing companies to pay for carbon dioxide emissions when flying within Europe, with the gradual elimination from 2024 of the free allowances that have been used so far, but also with a mechanism to encourage the use of sustainable fuels.
Source: APE-MPE-AFP-Reuters
Source: Kathimerini
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