The Aviation Directive: A good first step

The European Union's "Aviation Directive" is the only program in the world that sets enforceable limits on carbon pollution from aviation.

Starting in January 2012, all airlines will be accountable for their global warming pollution from flights landing in or taking off from EU airports, regardless of the flights' origin, destination, or nationality of airlines.

The European Union adopted the Aviation Directive after nearly 15 years of unproductive negotiations in the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have failed to develop any policy to control aviation emissions.

In the absence of a global agreement on reducing carbon pollution from aviation, this action by the EU is a sensible first step.

More information

• Disappointing, short-sighted Senate bill could jeopardize international action on aviation pollution

  Publication type: News release

  July 31, 2012

• Senate committee approves short-sighted bill that could jeopardize action on airplane pollution

  Publication type: Blog

  July 31, 2012

• Will Washington meeting on aviation pollution be undermined by U.S. airlines?

  Publication type: Blog

  July 30, 2012

• Responses from Annie Petsonk, EDF International Counsel, to questions for the record, Hearing on the European Union Emissions Trading System before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

  Publication type: Responses to questions for the congressional record

  July 23, 2012

• Testimony of Annie Petsonk, EDF International Counsel, Hearing on the European Union Emissions Trading System before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

  Publication type: Congressional testimony

  June 6, 2012

• EU anti-pollution law is modest, reasonable start to curb aviation emissions: EDF expert to Senate

  Publication type: News release

  June 6, 2012

• Analysis: Numerous national aviation measures reach beyond sovereign airspace

  Publication type: Blog

  June 5, 2012

• U.S. airlines give up legal fight against EU anti-pollution law

  Publication type: News release

  March 28, 2012

• Quick action needed from Obama Administration to limit airplane emissions

  Publication type: News release

  March 14, 2012

• Effort in Moscow to coordinate attack on EU aviation emissions law fizzles

  Publication type: Blog

  February 23, 2012

• Moscow effort to coordinate resistance to European climate law fizzles

  Publication type: News release

  February 22, 2012

• Letter from NGOs to U.S. State Department and White House regarding Feb. 21-22 Moscow aviation meeting [PDF]

  Publication type: Letter

  February 17, 2012

• On eve of Moscow meeting, new calculations reveal U.S. airlines could profit from EU cap on aviation emissions

  Publication type: Blog

  February 17, 2012

• Why Europe’s climate program for airlines is not a tax

  Publication type: Blog

  February 13, 2012

• Europe’s law to reduce emissions from aviation takes off

  Publication type: Blog

  January 10, 2012

• Major U.S. environmental groups criticize Obama administration’s efforts to undercut EU law to curb aviation emissions

  Publication type: Blog

  December 23, 2011

• In significant victory, Europe’s highest court upholds EU law that curbs aviation pollution

  Publication type: Blog

  December 21, 2011

• Environmental groups hail historic court decision upholding European law to curb airplane pollution, address climate change

  Publication type: News release

  December 21, 2011

• Letter from 9 environmental group CEOs to secretaries Clinton and LaHood after the EU's Court of Justice upholds EU aviation directive

  Publication type: Letter to Obama administration

  December 21, 2011

• Obama Administration disappoints in objection to EU law to reduce aviation emissions

  Publication type: Blog

  December 20, 2011

• Upcoming court's decision on U.S. airlines' attack on European climate law

  Publication type: Media briefing

  December 19, 2011

• U.S. should accept EU invitation to reduce airplane pollution

  Publication type: News release

  December 8, 2011

• EDF calls for cooperation with European Union on aviation pollution

  Publication type: News release

  December 6, 2011

• EDF decries continued skirmishes in ICAO Council over aircraft pollution caps

  Publication type: News release

  November 2, 2011

• U.S. House passes bill to make it illegal for U.S. airlines to comply with EU law to cut aviation emissions

  Publication type: Blog

  October 24, 2011

• U.S. House bill to thwart European anti-pollution law for aviation could turn U.S. airlines into international scofflaws, ignite trade war

  Publication type: News release

  October 24, 2011

• European court's preliminary opinion supports legality of EU law that curbs aviation pollution

  Publication type: News release

  October 6, 2011

• Fact sheet on the European Court of Justice

  Publication type: Fact sheet

  October 5, 2011

• Audio clip of media briefing on upcoming preliminary court opinion on U.S. airlines' attack on European climate law

  Publication type: Audio clip

  October 4, 2011

• Media briefing on upcoming preliminary court opinion on U.S. airlines' attack on European climate law

  Publication type: Media advisory

  October 3, 2011

• Obama administration falters on aviation emissions

  Publication type: News Release

  September 30, 2011

• Blog: U.S. commitment to curbing aviation emissions questionable as delegation joins meeting in India

  Publication type: Blog

  September 29, 2011

• On National Aviation Day, time for airlines to start flying greener

  Publication type: Blog

  August 19, 2011

• New advanced biofuels initiative “welcome,” but would have greater impact if U.S. supported EU aviation law

  Publication type: News Release

  August 16, 2011

• NY Times editorial on aviation spot on: European plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions makes sense

  Publication type: Blog

  August 3, 2011

• New York Times: Airlines and Carbon: The European plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions makes sense

  Publication type: Editorial

  August 3, 2011

• EDF submission to U.S. House on Aviation and the European Union Emissions Trading System

  Publication type: Submission

  July 27, 2011

• Major environmental, development groups oppose bill that would obstruct pioneering anti-pollution law for airlines -- Groups say bill based on "fundamentally erroneous legal and policy assumptions"

  Publication type: News Release

  July 27, 2011

• Letter from NGOs to Congress on H.R. 2594, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011

  Publication type: Letter to Policy Makers

  July 27, 2011

• Reuters: Why do airlines fight rules to help the environment?

  Publication type: Column

  July 26, 2011

• New bill seeks to thwart pioneering anti-pollution law for airlines -- EDF statement on the proposed "European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011

  Publication type: News release
  

  July 20, 2011

• Environmental Organizations Urge E.U. to Resist Pressure from U.S. Aviation Industry Over Carbon Emissions

  Publication type: News release

  July 5, 2011

• Airline Attack on E.U Emissions Trading System Meets Powerful Opposition

  Publication type: News release

  July 5, 2011

• Grist: How America just lost 1 million green(ish) jobs to Europe

  Publication type: Column

  June 29, 2011

• Why Cutting Airplanes' Carbon Pollution Matters, and Why U.S. Airlines Shouldn't be Allowed to Evade EU Law

  Publication type: Fact Sheet

  June 29, 2011

• An Overview of Aviation & the European Union Emissions Trading System

  Publication type: Fact Sheet

  June 29, 2011

• Timeline: The Long Road Toward Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Aviation

  Publication type: Timeline

  June 29, 2011

• Advisory: Media briefing on upcoming court hearing on U.S. airlines' attack on European climate law

  Publication type: Media Advisory

  June 28, 2011

• Obama administration facing a choice in U.S-EU aviation policy

  Publication type: News Release

  June 22, 2011

• U.S., EU officials meet on aviation amid U.S. airlines' efforts to gut anti-pollution program

  Publication type: Blog

  June 21, 2011

• Letter to President Obama on EU Aviation Directive

  Publication type: Letter to President

  June 21, 2011

• POLITICO Ad Highlights "Greenwashing" by United and Continental Airlines -- U.S.-EU officials meet Wednesday to discuss airlines' efforts to kill EU anti-pollution program

  Publication type: News Release

  June 21, 2011

• Letter to Nancy Young, Vice President, Air Transport Association of America, from five environmental organizations

  Publication type: Letter to Airline Industry

  June 2, 2011

• Letter to Senators on FAA reauthorization bill

  Publication type: Letter to Policy Makers

  May 20, 2011

• Take Action Against Cynical Airline Greenwashing

  Publication type: Action Alert

  May 16, 2011

• American, United, Continental Airlines "Greenwashing", say environmental groups

  Publication type: Blog

  May 11, 2011

• Letter to Mr. Jeffery A. Smisek, CEO of United/ Continental, from five environmental organizations

  Publication type: Letter to Airline Industry

  May 11, 2011

• Letter to Gerard J. Arpey, CEO of American Airlines, from five environmental organizations

  Publication type: Letter to Airline Industry

  May 11, 2011

• Environmental Groups Highlight “Greenwashing” by American, United, Continental Airlines

  Publication type: News Release

  May 11, 2011

• It's time for Continental and United to start flying cleaner

  Publication type: Advertisement

  May 11, 2011

• It's time for American Airlines to start flying cleaner

  Publication type: Advertisement

  May 11, 2011

• Greenhouse Gases From Planes May Send Temperatures Soaring -- UN Report Cites Aviation Climate Risk But Clinton Administration Is Cutting Research Funds

  Publication type: News Release

  April 16, 1999

• Tracking The Skies: An Airline-based system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions from international civil aviation

  Publication type: Report

  1999