Climate, why air traffic escapes ecological taxation
Environment — di Andrea Barolini
Despite being responsible for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, air traffic is still almost entirely exempt from eco-taxes.
Climate, why air traffic escapes ecological taxation
Despite being responsible for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, air traffic is still almost entirely exempt from eco-taxes.
The entire world is – albeit with great difficulty – attempting to align itself with the Paris Agreement, with the aim of limiting the rise in global average temperature and averting climate catastrophe. To do so, among other things, fiscal systems are needed that on the one hand discourage polluting emissions, and on the other allow funds to be raised to finance ecological transition projects.
#TravelNews Following the #Netherlands, #Belgium will propose at the Council of #Environment Ministers to tax European commercial #aviation regarding its impact on the environment. It could be a tax on aircraft fuel or a VAT on #flight tickets. #StayTuned sudinfo.be/id105111/artic…
Belgium and the Netherlands have asked the EU to change course
Thus, there is growing talk of a "carbon tax" — that is, taxes on greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts are also being made to increase taxes on the most harmful fuels. And in many cases, differentiated vehicle levies are being introduced based on different car models, rewarding the most sustainable ones. And yet, within the mobility sector there exists one segment that has so far remained almost entirely exempt from "ecological taxation": air transport.
The issue has been raised repeatedly at the United Nations' most recent World Climate Conferences (Cop). In France, moreover, the yellow vest protests highlighted how taxes on the kerosene used by aircraft are zero, while those on fuels for road transport amount to around 60 per cent of the total price. And yet, airlines have so far remained effectively exempt from the shared effort.
Taxes on kerosene or taxes on tickets?
Something could change, however, since two nations — the Netherlands and Belgium — have officially requested, during two meetings of the Finance and Environment Ministers of the European Union, that ad hoc measures be introduced. These could be applied to kerosene or could take the form of eco-taxes on tickets.
Belgian government is considering a tax on commercial flights brussels-express.eu/belgium-is-con… #StopClimateChange #Belgium
Meanwhile, the NGO network Climate Action Network confirmed to the international press that "some countries such as Japan, Norway, the United States and Brazil have introduced fuel taxes. But these are exceptions. Which, moreover, do not apply to domestic flights."
Read also: Sweden introduces a tax on flights to reduce emissions
Air traffic protected by a convention dating back to 1944
The reason for the absence of environmental taxation is said to be linked to an old International Convention on Civil Aviation — the Chicago Convention, signed back in 1944. At the time, the objective was to develop international air traffic. But today the priority is to combat climate change. All the more so given that the sector is responsible for between 2 and 3 per cent of global CO2 emissions. When other agents released — such as the water vapour that generates aircraft contrails — are also factored in, the figure rises to 5 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
To achieve results, however, it will be necessary for other European governments to support those of the Netherlands and Belgium.