European airlines step up lobbying against EU climate rules

European airlines are pushing against Brussels imposing tougher emissions rules under the EU’s long-awaited climate package, according to documents obtained by a leading environmental group. The documents obtained by Influence Map through freedom of information requests show that airlines and industry bodies have been lobbying against stricter EC rules for the sector under the EU’s carbon-trading system. They have also objected to the creation of new taxes for carbon-intensive fuels, using their pandemic-ravaged balance sheets as an argument against tougher regulations. The industry efforts come as the Commission prepares to unveil a host of green legislation in mid-July as part of its work to slash the region’s emissions by 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. Lufthansa wrote in January to Frans Timmermans, EU vice-commissioner for the Green Deal, to complain about the “unlevel playing field” that new rules, such as requirements for carriers to use a certain amount of sustainable fuel, would create. European airlines last year committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, which they plan to achieve using a mix of fuel-efficient aircraft, sustainable fuels, offsetting and new technologies such as hydrogen and electric-powered aircraft. These commitments have been undermined by the lobbying against short-term climate measures, according to green advocacy groups. “The aviation sector has communicated high-level support for net-zero EU aviation emissions by 2050 while opposing national and EU-level climate regulation to help deliver that target in,” said Influence Map.<br/>