Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 7 • Number 22 • 18th December 2007

US Groups Want Curbs on Airplane Emissions

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A coalition of states and environmental groups has asked the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions stemming from aircraft.

The petition, which would cover both foreign and domestic aircraft entering US airports, followed an earlier petition focused on greenhouse gas emissions from marine vessels in US territory (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 5 October 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-10-05/story2.htm).

Environmental groups Earthjustice, Oceana, Friends of the Earth and the Center for Biological Diversity said greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft could be reduced through measures such as using lightweight composite materials and winglets; adopting advanced contra-rotating propellers; minimising engine idling; and flying at optimal cruise altitudes

The Attorney Generals of five US states, two cities, and a California government agency filed a simultaneous petition. “Aviation is a large and rapidly growing source of greenhouse gases and the EPA should have taken action by now to curb these emissions. Not to do so, ignores the tremendous opportunity for technological innovations that can increase efficiency and reduce emissions,” commented California Attorney General Brown.

The EU already has plans to include aviation in its emissions trading scheme, and the US and EU recently clashed over this policy at the tri-annual International Civil Aviation Organisation Assembly (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 5 October 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-10-05/story1.htm).

Reaction to the petitions, the US Air Transport Association, which represents major airline companies, opposed any new measures saying that “the commercial airlines already are driven to be as fuel efficient and environmentally conscious as possible.”

While the bulk of internationally traded goods are transported by water, roads and rail, aviation also plays an important role. The aviation sector contributes around two percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. However, when indirect effects from other pollutants as well as cloud formation are added, aviation contributes up to nine percent of global warming effect. Aviation is also one of the fastest-growing sectors. Emissions have doubled since 1990 and are projected to further grow by 3.5 percent annually, tripling at the global level by 2050. Half of global aviation emissions stem from the US today.

Additional resources

To access the petition filed by several environmental groups, see http://oceana.org/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/Climate_Change/FINAL_Aircraft_GHG_Petition_PR_FINAL.pdf

To access the petition filed by US states and cities, see http://oceana.org/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/Climate_Change/FINAL_States_Aircraft_Petition_FINAL.pdf

ICTSD reporting; “5 states seek curbs on aircraft greenhouse gases- EPA accused of ‘very passive and unimaginative approach’,” AP, 5 December 2007; “States, Groups Demand Aircraft Climate Emission Limits,” ENS, 6 December 2007.