Share this on social media
Secret Subsidies: How the Government is gifting free money to airlines via its carbon market
(Transport and Environment, 24 Jun 2022) UK airlines were allowed to pollute for free and given subsidies via the UK’s flagship scheme to reduce carbon emissions, new study finds.
The UK government is giving airlines so many free pollution permits through the carbon market for aviation that they don’t have to pay for any of their climate-warming emissions. Airline polluters received £242 million worth of free CO2 ‘allowances’ last year [1], according to a new study by green group Transport & Environment (T&E). The UK’s carbon market is supposed to reduce carriers’ emissions under the polluter pays principle.
The 4.4 million free permits dwarfed the 3.4 million that carriers had to surrender under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS), the study shows. Airlines could have retained the 0.9 million excess allowances for future years or sold them back onto the UK ETS secondary market. Had these excess allowances been sold, airlines could have banked up to £72 million, the study finds.
Matt Finch, UK director at T&E, said: “The government put in place a scheme meant to reduce aviation emissions, yet it grants get out of jail free cards. Last year was doubly absurd: airlines were allowed to pollute for free, and on top of that the Government awarded excess free allowances that the airlines could sell. That’s a gap in the public coffers needed for public services that taxpayers had to fill instead.”
External link
Transport and Environment, 24 Jun 2022: Secret Subsidies: How the Government is gifting free money to airlines via its carbon market
28 Mar 2023: The climate cost of post-Covid revenge event-going: How to stop people flying to conferences?
17 Mar 2023: 85% of global companies don’t have credible plans to reduce corporate flying emissions
7 Mar 2023: Policy support needed to boost sustainable aviation fuels in China
28 Feb 2023: The easy fix to air pollution linked to planes
28 Feb 2023: Scientists pour cold water on UK aviation’s net zero ambitions
20 Feb 2023: EU taxonomy for aviation: Will Von der Leyen rubber stamp the biggest act of aviation greenwashing in decades?
16 Feb 2023: UK airlines: not paying for pollution
20 Jan 2023: Airlines to invoke EU freedoms to challenge green restrictions on short-haul flights
8 Dec 2022: Lawmakers agree to restrict EU carbon tax to flights within Europe
7 Nov 2022: Majority of employees expect top executives to set corporate flying reduction targets – new survey
10 Oct 2022: International air travel set for ‘aspirational’ 2050 net zero goal
7 Oct 2022: UN aviation body pushes back on transparency, influence concerns on sustainability talks
29 Sep 2022: Revealed: 5,000 empty ‘ghost flights’ in UK since 2019, data shows
27 Sep 2022: Calculating your vacation’s carbon footprint, one travel mode at a time
26 Sep 2022: Easyjet to stop offsetting CO2 emissions from December
23 Sep 2022: Activists subvert poster sites to shame aviation and ad industries
26 Aug 2022: Google accused of airbrushing carbon emissions in flight search results
22 Jul 2022: A 17-minute flight? The super-rich who have ‘absolute disregard for the planet'
8 Jul 2022: EU lawmakers stop controversial biofuels from fuelling planes
28 Jun 2022: MEPs vote to broaden the definition of ‘sustainable aviation fuels’
27 Jun 2022: Dutch government issues world-first cap on flights from European hub
14 Jun 2022: Dutch group targets hydrogen-fuelled commercial flight in 2028
10 Jun 2022: Analysis of green jet fuel production in Europe
16 May 2022: Johnson’s ‘jet zero’ plan unrealistic and may make UK miss CO2 targets – report
10 May 2022: Just one of 50 aviation industry climate targets met, study finds
10 May 2022: Too few businesses pledge to reduce business flying, new corporate ranking finds
29 Apr 2022: Is it possible to fly to New York without emitting CO2?
29 Apr 2022: Climate impact of flying could be two thirds higher than thought
12 Apr 2022: Europe’s largest airlines claim net zero future whilst lobbying to weaken EU’s climate laws
8 Apr 2022: How much does air travel warm the planet? New report gives a figure
1 Apr 2022: Non-CO2 effects of aviation: Time to finally address aviation’s full climate impact
8 Mar 2022: The Guardian view on ghost flights: a symptom, not the disease
8 Mar 2022: Why “flying less” offers the best path to sustainable aviation
6 Dec 2021: US spending on airport expansion flies under the radar for climate activists
3 Dec 2021: British Airways looks to recycled cooking oil fuel to cut jet emissions
11 Nov 2021: Low-carbon aviation fuels are on the horizon. But for now, activists say we need to stay grounded
25 Oct 2021: Could flying electric ‘air taxis’ help fix urban transportation?
8 Oct 2021: IATA approves resolution for global aviation industry to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
4 Oct 2021: Greening measures will add around 8% to airline costs, EU estimates
6 Sep 2021: Climate impact of a transatlantic flight could cost global economy $3,000
5 Jul 2021: LEAK: EU to propose aviation fuel tax in green policy push
21 May 2021: Expansion of English airports could threaten climate commitments – report
6 May 2021: Airlines must reduce emissions instead of offsetting, say experts
29 Apr 2021: Aviation bosses embrace sustainable aviation fuels as path to green flying
26 Apr 2021: Fuelling a European recovery: Time to end aviation fuel tax exemption
12 Apr 2021: European business travellers say set to fly less after COVID-19
25 Mar 2021: Solo car journeys more harmful to the environment than flying: report
19 Mar 2021: Revealed: Unpublished EU analysis is scathing of airline CO2 deal
19 Mar 2021: Global airline emissions plan falls short of EU goals, Brussels advised
26 Feb 2021: EU announces fresh funding for ‘disruptive’ research into clean aircraft
22 Feb 2021: EU plans eco ranking for planes and flights - Welt am Sonntag
15 Feb 2021: Europe’s aviation sector launches ambitious plan to reach net zero by 2050
11 Feb 2021: Grounded by coronavirus lockdowns, aviation mustn't be allowed to return to carbon-heavy days: Report
11 Feb 2021: France scraps Paris airport expansion over climate concerns
4 Feb 2021: Recovering atmospheric carbon can make new fuel
14 Jan 2021: Airlines join NGO calls for tougher EU biofuel regulations
17 Dec 2020: Top UK court overturns block on Heathrow's third runway
4 Dec 2020: 1% ‘super emitters’ responsible for over 50% of aviation emissions
26 Nov 2020: Climate-busting plane pollution revealed by new EU study
12 Nov 2020: People plan to drive more post-Covid, climate poll shows
12 Oct 2020: UK Supreme Court hears climate case on Heathrow airport expansion
29 Sep 2020: Calculating the true climate impact of aviation emissions
28 Sep 2020: Supply chains generate massive carbon emissions
21 Sep 2020: Airbus reveals ‘zero-emission’ plane plan
4 Sep 2020: Global aviation accounts for 3.5 percent of human climate impact - aeronautics researchers
3 Jul 2020: Airlines’ climate obligations postponed as UN body endorses industry proposal
25 Jun 2020: Largest electric plane in Europe takes to the skies over the UK
25 Jun 2020: Shipping, aviation 2030 climate goals too weak, research finds
22 Jun 2020: Taxing jet-fuel still on the radar, despite aviation’s virus woes
11 Jun 2020: Carbon-neutral aircraft might work with ion drive
11 Jun 2020: Swiss parliament backs carbon surcharge on plane tickets
11 Jun 2020: ‘Final blow’ to aviation climate plan as EU agrees to weaken rules
2 Jun 2020: Green bailouts: relying on carbon offsetting will let polluting airlines off the hook
1 Jun 2020: EU urged not to mess with UN aviation rules
14 May 2020: UN aviation scheme to supplement, not replace EU carbon trading
7 May 2020: Economy bigwigs rank airline bailouts last on virus recovery wishlist
4 May 2020: Air France coronavirus bailout package to demand steep emissions cuts
27 Apr 2020: Coronavirus: airlines seek €12.8bn in bailouts without environmental conditions attached
20 Apr 2020: Austrian Airlines bailout to be linked to climate targets
7 Apr 2020: Airlines urge UN body to ease climate goals for 2020s as traffic collapses
2 Apr 2020: Big airline polluters grew emissions in 2019 ahead of expected COVID drop
26 Mar 2020: Coronavirus redraws battle lines on airline emissions
17 Mar 2020: Coronavirus may toughen airlines’ goals for curbing emissions in 2020s
13 Mar 2020: Ban short-haul flights for climate? In EU poll 62% say yes
6 Mar 2020: UN aviation agency weighs restrictions on carbon credits under fire by climate activists
6 Mar 2020: Delay aviation tax because of coronavirus, says airline boss
6 Mar 2020: Delay aviation tax because of coronavirus, says airline boss
28 Feb 2020: The death of Heathrow’s third runway sends a clear message ahead of Cop26
28 Feb 2020: Heathrow airport expansion is unlawful, says UK court
20 Feb 2020: The French MEP bashing football clubs over their flying habit
7 Feb 2020: ‘Flight shame’? Europeans have never flown as frequently
5 Feb 2020: Ryanair accused of greenwash over carbon emissions claim
31 Jan 2020: Global airline group to launch carbon exchange platform to address climate change
13 Jan 2020: Sweden's air travel drops in year when 'flight shaming' took off
3 Feb 2023: Voluntary carbon markets: a misunderstood climate solution
20 Dec 2022: Climate-conscious Indians tap carbon credits for greener fun
11 Nov 2022: Beijing city preparing businesses for carbon market expansion
1 Jul 2022: Former Australian chief scientist to head review of carbon credit scheme after whistleblower revelations
14 Jun 2022: Rebooting China’s carbon credits: What will 2022 bring?
10 May 2022: Can the EU and China align their carbon markets?
28 Apr 2022: Widespread carbon capture in Southeast Asia unviable without carbon pricing: report
29 Mar 2022: Australian carbon traders defend troubled offset market against whistleblower claims
17 Mar 2022: Europe seeks breakthrough on climate change plans amid energy crisis
21 Feb 2022: The first year of China’s national carbon market, reviewed
11 Feb 2022: The price of polluting is soaring: report
16 Dec 2021: A sustainable carbons cycle or a vicious emissions cycle?
9 Dec 2021: EU carbon price could hit €100 by year end after record run – analysts
30 Nov 2021: Carbon markets are booming. Here’s how to ensure they work
23 Nov 2021: Polluters face price pain as global carbon trading system moves forward
16 Nov 2021: Rights groups warn COP26 rules on carbon markets leave indigenous people exposed
15 Nov 2021: Comparing the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ roadmap and the IEA’s net-zero scenario
8 Nov 2021: COP26 carbon-market talks 'difficult'—but hopes for breakthrough, says Norway minister
4 Nov 2021: ‘Put a price on carbon, nature cannot pay,’ EU’s von der Leyen tells COP26
27 Oct 2021: ‘Chess game’ as negotiators seek elusive carbon market deal at Cop26
26 Aug 2021: How can China’s national carbon market contribute to reducing emissions?
30 Jul 2021: Global initiative aims to bring transparency to voluntary carbon markets
19 Jul 2021: China steps up climate fight with emissions trading scheme
12 Jul 2021: G20 recognizes carbon pricing as climate change tool for first time
21 Jun 2021: Global carbon price floor would limit global warming - IMF staff
28 May 2021: To meet net zero by 2050 we need a long-term vision for carbon pricing
28 May 2021: China’s national ETS needs high-level political support to succeed
6 May 2021: EU carbon price hits record €50 per tonne on route to climate target
15 Apr 2021: In a pandemic year, China and the rest of Asia push ahead on carbon markets
15 Apr 2021: Four key issues to watch in the EU’s carbon market reform
9 Apr 2021: Climate change cannot be abated without effective carbon pricing
8 Apr 2021: How Joe Biden could effortlessly boost aviation climate action
25 Mar 2021: Carbon markets are proving resilient to the coronavirus pandemic
18 Mar 2021: ‘Without a carbon cap, you can’t provide strong support for a carbon peak’
12 Mar 2021: EU Parliament votes to retain free CO2 quotas for industry
4 Mar 2021: Carbon pricing expands in Canada, making slower progress in the United States
22 Feb 2021: How much does climate change cost? Biden expected to raise carbon’s dollar value
22 Feb 2021: Getting the social cost of carbon right
8 Feb 2021: Q&A: What is China’s carbon trading scheme?
2 Feb 2021: China says ‘more consultation’ needed on EU carbon border levy
2 Feb 2021: China’s national carbon market is about to launch
25 Jan 2021: As US renews climate relations with EU and China, carbon pricing raises tensions
18 Jan 2021: France's Total quits top U.S. oil lobby over climate policies
11 Jan 2021: China launches world’s largest carbon market for power sector
21 Dec 2020: Japan to mull bolder emissions target, carbon pricing scheme next year - vice minister
30 Nov 2020: Fixing EU carbon market crucial to airlines ‘building back better’
5 Nov 2020: Emissions from energy sector likely to rebound from COVID-19, Capgemini warns
30 Oct 2020: UK negotiator: Countries must resolve carbon market dispute to step up ambition
23 Oct 2020: Official: EU taking first steps to bring forestry into carbon market
1 Oct 2020: Despite socialist scepticism, Cuba shows interest in carbon trading
1 Oct 2020: Fate of UN-led carbon market to be decided behind closed doors
15 Sep 2020: Shippers balk at EU carbon market plan
11 Sep 2020: ‘EU carbon market not the right policy for cars, says Timmermans
22 Jun 2020: Zero-carbon takeaway? Spanish delivery start-up Glovo targets greener future
2 Jun 2020: UK proposes own carbon market, remains coy on link with EU ETS
21 May 2020: German cabinet agrees CO2 price of €25 from January 2021
27 Mar 2020: EU sticks to carbon reporting deadlines, rejects industry calls for coronavirus delay
26 Mar 2020: EU carbon market ‘the first victim’ as electricity demand collapses
17 Dec 2019: Germany to raise carbon price to 25 euros in 2021 after pressure -sources
11 Jul 2019: German coalition divided over carbon pricing
28 Jan 2019: Carbon pricing and digital tax find traction in Davos
