Call for emissions from international flights to be regulated under the EU emissions trading system

London, 24 June 2025: Climate NGOs Opportunity Green and Carbon Market Watch are writing a letter to EU President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioners calling for emissions from international flights departing Europe to be regulated under the EU emissions trading system (ETS), despite anticipated US pressure.

The letter coincides with the launch of Opportunity Green’s new Policy guide to the EU ETS for aviation to the issue and interactive EU aviation climate cost calculator which shows how much the ETS exemption has cost climate action.

In 2012, when the ETS was set to extend to international flight emissions, the EU Commission caved to US and aviation industry pressure and passed an exemption. Opportunity Green’s analysis shows this left 1.1bn tonnes of CO₂ unregulated in 2012-2023, more than Greece’s total in the same period, and €26bn in revenues uncollected. Meanwhile, the global CORSIA system has proven itself demonstrably unfit for purpose.

Next year, the EU Commission will have the opportunity to bring international aviation back into the EU ETS. The letter calls on the EU to hold true to its values and resist the pressure to repeat its mistakes of 2012. 

Aoife O’Leary, CEO at Opportunity Green, says:  

“Aviation has enjoyed free passes on climate for far too long and it’s time for the EU to put a price on its pollution by including it in the Emissions Trading System. The EU earned its reputation as a climate leader by pioneering the ETS as a global first 20 years ago – now it must prove it still merits that title by making international aviation pay for its emissions. Caving to industry and US lobbying by exempting international aviation from the ETS in 2012 left billions of tonnes of carbon emissions unregulated, and billions of euros uncollected that could have gone to climate action at home and abroad.”

Bastien Bonnet-Cantalloube, expert on decarbonisation of aviation and shipping at Carbon Market Watch, says: 

“The US and ICAO have had over three decades to act on aviation’s climate impact – and they failed. While emissions soared, the world endured thousands of climate-related disasters and mounting deaths. In 2025, the EU must not repeat the mistake of 2012. It must show courage and put a price on emissions from all flights departing from its member countries. Trade threats cannot be an excuse for inaction. Europe must lead – not back down – and stand by its climate values.”

Read the full letter here: