What if all flight emissions were priced... and every euro raised went to climate action?

Aviation emissions continue to rise, yet the sector’s pollution remains largely unpriced. Neither CORSIA, a weak international offsetting scheme delivering no real emission reduction, nor the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), which only covers flights within the EU.

But what if the aviation industry was finally made to pay its fair share? 

Extending the EU ETS to cover more international flights, private jets, and the effects caused by non-CO2 greenhouse gases could generate hundreds of billions of euros that could be spent on funding cleaner transport and towards a fair transition.

CMW commissioned two investigations: one comparing the EU ETS and CORSIA and their respective climate ambitions, and the other assessing the revenue potential from extending the ETS to cover more of the aviation sector’s environmental impacts.

Here are some of the main findings

Way off CORSIA

CORSIA only covers emissions growth above a high baseline and relies on low-quality offsets which often have no strong enforcement, offering little real climate benefit.

ETS: better, but low coverage

The ETS is far stronger at tackling emissions than CORSIA, but even after the full phase out of free allowances in 2026, less than 15% of the EU aviation sector’s climate impact will be priced.

Off the radar

Carbon pricing plans ignore the damaging impact of non-CO2 effects, representing at least two-thirds of aviation’s climate impact.

Luxury flights, free rides

Two-thirds of private jets are exempt from the EU ETS. These luxury flights pollute up to 14 times more per passenger per km. It’s time for full pricing.

Billions lost through loopholes

If current coverage gaps remain, the EU could miss out on between €600 billion to €1 trillion in revenue over the next 15 years.

Cash machine

Enhanced EU ETS coverage could raise enough to close the annual funding gap for such measures as scaling up sustainable aviation fuels and developing rail and other sustainable transport infrastructure.

Sky polluters, time to chip in...
Citizens, time to cash in!

Aviation has enjoyed special treatment for too long. It’s high time the sector set course towards urgent, steep and science-based emission reductions. With the imminent arrival of the Emissions Trading System for road transport and buildings (ETS2), ordinary Europeans will soon pay the full price of emissions from heating their homes and driving their cars. If households are expected to bear the full cost of their emissions, the same principle must apply to flight operators. It’s time to make the sector contribute fully, push this growing industry toward faster decarbonisation, and use the revenue to fund clean transport and a just transition.

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Our demands

Polluter pays principle

The weak CORSIA policy does not go far enough, so the EU must expand the scope of the ETS by first covering all flights departing from the European Economic Area. This would be a key step towards properly pricing all international flights’ emissions and cutting the share of unpriced climate impacts.

Down to earth solutions

By expanding the EU ETS to cover all flights departing from the EEA, private jets, and non-CO2 effects, the EU’s carbon pricing scheme would drive the sector to decarbonise faster and unlock up to €1 trillion to fund clean fuels, better railways, and a just transition.

CO2rrective action

Addressing the non-CO2 impact of aviation is essential to ensure that the sector’s real climate footprint is accounted for.

Private jets must pay more

The EU should fully include the emissions of private jets in carbon pricing plans. Given their extreme climate impact per passenger and disconnected luxurious purpose, an appropriate carbon price multiplier must be applied.

Use revenues wisely

The EU should channel aviation’s ETS revenue into real climate solutions, supporting truly sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), rail infrastructure, and climate finance. SAF support must be strictly reserved for e-kerosene to prevent subsidies from flowing into false climate solutions.

Soft landing for the planet

It is important to ensure that flying does not end up literally costing the Earth. We urgently need to navigate towards a safe landing zone that safeguards the future of the planet while maintaining people’s ability to roam.

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