The European Commission is set to rubber stamp thousands of polluting aircraft as sustainable, under the EU taxonomy rules. This could be a major setback for the fight against climate change, as it would greenwash over 7,000 Airbus aircraft, representing over 90% of the company’s future orders.
The criteria for aviation to be included in the EU taxonomy rules are currently being discussed. Under the draft criteria, traditional aircraft qualify as “best in class” if they are more efficient than older generation aircraft. However, these aircraft still rely almost exclusively on fossil fuels and the emissions savings are only around 15-20%. This means that CO2 emissions from the sector have still grown exponentially in recent decades, despite fuel efficiency improvements.
Transport & Environment (T&E) is calling on the European Commission to amend the criteria for aviation in the EU Taxonomy. They suggest that these should strictly endorse new technologies with true emissions reduction potential, such as zero-emission aircraft and high quality sustainable aviation fuels. This would ensure that investments into future fleets are truly green and that flights on these planes are not falsely labelled as sustainable.
The European Commission must take action to ensure that the EU Taxonomy does not become a smokescreen for polluting aircraft. If they fail to do so, it could be a major setback for the fight against climate change.
FAQ
Q1. How electric car batteries work?
A1. Electric car batteries are typically lithium-ion batteries that store energy and power the motor. They are recharged by plugging the car into an electric outlet or charging station.
Q2. What electric car has the longest range?
A2. The Tesla Model S has the longest range of any electric car currently on the market, with a range of up to 370 miles on a single charge.
Q3. How electric car chargers work?
A3. Electric car chargers are devices that plug into an electrical outlet and charge the battery of an electric car. They come in different types, such as Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Chargers, and each type has different charging speeds.
