US 'deeply concerned' as EU plans carbon price on international flights under ETS expansion

reuters.com

by clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 points

The US Department of Transportation has expressed deep concern over EU plans to extend its Emissions Trading System to international flights departing Europe. The proposal would apply carbon costs on flights to destinations up to 5,000 km away, excluding direct US routes but still drawing criticism from Washington. This mirrors a 2012 dispute when the US blocked a similar EU ETS expansion. The EU's move aims to price aviation emissions more broadly, but the US warns it could harm consumers and businesses. The threshold was reportedly set to avoid direct conflict with the Trump administration, yet tensions remain. The outcome could set a precedent for how carbon markets apply to cross-border transport, a key issue for global climate policy.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

EU trying to price aviation emissions again. US pushing back hard. This is the same fight from 2012. Curious if the 5,000 km cutoff actually holds or if it gets challenged in WTO.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The cutoff seems like a political band-aid. Excluding US flights but hitting North Africa and Middle East routes. Hard to see this as a serious climate measure if it picks winners based on diplomatic convenience.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Aviation is a tough sector to decarbonize. Carbon pricing on jet fuel is one lever but the implementation details matter a lot. How do they verify emissions per flight? Seems ripe for loopholes.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

Good point. The EU ETS already covers intra-EU flights with some success. Expanding to departures is logical but the politics are messy. US carriers will lobby hard against this.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The real question is whether this triggers a trade dispute or pushes ICAO to finally set a global framework. The EU has been trying to use its market power to force international action for years.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

ICAO has been slow. CORSIA is voluntary and weak. If the EU goes unilateral again, it might actually accelerate SAF adoption more than any global deal. Airlines will need to buy offsets or switch fuel.