“In the same way, the aeroplane, the tool of the airlines, involves man in all the old problems”
- Antoine de Saint Exupery Terre des Hommes, 1938
Various regulatory bodies worldwide have taken steps to address the aviation sector's environmental impact. In recent years, we have seen a rise in policies and regulations aimed at mitigating these effects, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices.
The European Union (EU) has played a significant role in this context, implementing a range of policies to ensure member states work collectively toward environmental goals. Since the adoption of the Fit for 55 package in 2019, following the Paris Agreement, the EU has introduced Regulations and Directives designed to harmonize efforts across all member states, aiming to achieve ambitious climate targets.
Today, in the post-COVID-19 era, a rebound in airline activity has naturally led to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. However, this has also reinforced the urgency of addressing resource sustainability. Indeed, the old problem of resources on the planet is now more than ever a priority for airlines, industry, and companies in the aviation sector.
A new mindset for the aviation industry
As the European Commission states,“ A person flying from Lisbon to New York and back generates roughly the same level of emissions as an average EU citizen does by heating their home for a whole year.”
The aviation industry has been challenged to quickly improve its environmental impact through innovation & new perspectives for the future of flying. If we take a look back we can see how a more sustainable industry has been imagined since the late 20’s:
- New, more efficient aircraft and engines have been released. For example, the A321 Neo or the A350 certified by ICAO on noise requirements.
“The A350 offers unrivaled operational flexibility and efficiency for all market segments and delivers the lowest noise footprint in its category, reducing the impact on communities." Source: Airbus
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New cockpit features are being developed to support pilots in their daily operations. For instance, the Continuous Descent Approach illustrates the desire to change perspective from the historical approach in the landing phase.
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Airlines have a new way of addressing sustainability. They can start from technical aspects, such as using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or fuel-efficiency techniques, to a more implicit aspect linked to the airline's governance, highlighting their commitment to reducing CO2 emissions in their Sustainability reports or global communications.
And what about the industry institutions?
Achieving sustainability in aviation also relies on political decision-making. However, international governance can present significant challenges, due to cultural differences, divergent legal systems, and conflicting political priorities.
Therefore, to respond to such a need for consistency and uniformity, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is becoming one of the major actors committed to the fight against Climate Change.
Standing on ICAO’s side, the European Union (EU) is also pushing the industry toward the Net Zero path in 2050.
Environmental regulation is based on international treaties, such as the well-known Paris Deal—2021, which stated the aim of 0% CO2 in 2050. Today, transport's emissions are targeted in environmental regulations, such as the ReFuel EU Maritime and Aviation.
Thus, “the old problems” of Saint Exupery are now more than ever a priority for each component of the aviation regulations on the environment.
Why are environmental policies and regulations important for airlines?
1. Legal compliance
Aviation actors at every level are facing an increasing number of regulations regarding the fight against climate change. Most of those regulations are still based on voluntary participation; nevertheless, there are main regulations that airlines and the industry have to follow.
However, uncertainty about the economic viability of biofuels presents a major challenge for airlines to comply with certain goals. To address this, international bodies like ICAO and the EU set emissions standards based on projected traffic growth, beginning the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS).
💡 Launched in 2005, the EU-ETS system is composed of different phases. As of today, we are in the phase 2021-2030. EU-ETS is a legal framework stated in the ”ETS Directive” reviewed to align with the EU Climate objectives. As a result, European Airlines have to comply with this EU-ETS system to comply with the European Climate Law that mandates European Countries to be climate neutral in 2050.
Compliance is crucial for airlines because it ensures they meet legal and regulatory requirements, avoid penalties, and maintain their ability to operate in international markets.
2. Environmental commitment
The aviation sector is challenged by several constraints, such as increasing fuel costs and growing environmental concerns in our society. For instance, la Fondation Jean Jaurès shared a case study on the topic, saying that 27% of 18- 24-year-old French people don’t want to travel by plane for environmental reasons.
This shift in attitudes toward air travel is now more than ever linked to the visible consequences of climate change on the planet. That’s why it is in airlines' interest to become active contributors to the industry’s decarbonization, not only to address regulatory and market pressures but also to strengthen their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) engagement, meet societal expectations, and secure long-term viability.
Airlines should be aware that navigating environmental challenges can become complex when it comes to communication strategies and the growing trend of Climate Judiciary Actions. There has been a significant rise in "greenwashing" environmental claims brought before national courts, often supported by the European Commission. This underscores the need for airlines to ensure compliance, transparency, and robust ESG strategies to mitigate legal and reputational risks.
"If we want responsible consumers, we need to provide them with accurate information. More and more travelers care about their environmental footprint and choose products and services with better environmental performance. They deserve accurate and scientific answers, not vague or falseclaims. The Commission is fully committed to empowering consumers in the green transition and fighting greenwashing. We expect airlines, as well as any other industry operator, to make a responsible use of environmental claims."
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