The European Commission announced on Wednesday the launch of a CO2 emissions label for air transport, with the aim of promoting less polluting flights and combating ‘greenwashing.’
The label will be operational from July 2025 but will not be compulsory. It is intended to "clearly and reliably calculate" the greenhouse gas emissions of flights, the commission said.
From Summer 2025 onwards, passengers will be able to "view and compare the estimated emissions of their flights," and make ‘more informed purchasing decisions," the Commission said in a press release.
Currently, "airlines and ticket vendors use disparate methods, which are not necessarily comparable," it stressed.
The aviation sector is responsible for around 3% of global CO2 emissions.
It has pledged to achieve ‘net zero emissions’ by 2050. However, the difficulties experienced by Boeing and Airbus in meeting demand for the latest generation of aircraft, and the investment needed to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) on a large scale are undermining this carbon neutrality objective.
The new label is foreseen by the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which promotes sustainable fuels in the sector. It can only be issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
