EPA declares aircraft carbon emissions a health threat

OREANDA-NEWS. July 26, 2016. US regulators today laid the foundation for regulating greenhouse gases from commercial aircraft after determining emissions from the sector threaten public health.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today finalized a finding that GHG emissions from certain jet engines used in commercial aviation "cause or contribute" to climate change, endangering public health and welfare. Such a finding is the first step the agency must take before it can regulate emissions.

"Addressing pollution from aircraft is an important element of US efforts to address climate change. Aircraft are the third largest contributor to GHG emissions in the U.S. transportation sector, and these emissions are expected to increase in the future," EPA acting administrator for air and radiation Janet McCabe said.

US aircraft account for about 12pc of GHG emissions from the transportation sector and 29pc of all emissions from aircraft globally, EPA said.

The start of the regulatory process will hinge on the completion of global standards being set through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The UN body expected to finish its process early next year, EPA said. While EPA had previously said its standards would likely mirror those set by ICAO, today it suggested they may only set a floor for US action.

"EPA anticipates moving forward on standards that would be at least as stringent as ICAO's standards," the agency said.

US airlines said EPA's statement simply reflects the country's treaty obligations, which require it to at least match ICAO standards. In addition, the agency's finding noted the US usually aligns its aircraft certification standards with ICAO's, industry group Airlines for America said.

"It is critical that aircraft emissions standards be set at the international level and not imposed unilaterally by one country or set of countries," the group said.

But some states and environmental groups say EPA should set more stringent standards to ensuring meaningful emissions cuts. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said it believes EPA has opened the door to doing so.

"US aircraft have emitted the lion's share of global warming pollution world-wide. We should shoulder the lion's share of the pollution-cutting responsibilities as well," EDF international counsel Annie Petsonk said.

EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it intends to go beyond the ICAO standards.

ICAO has proposed fuel efficiency and CO2 standards that would be applicable to new aircraft designs as of 2020 and to deliveries of current aircraft designs by 2023. The stringency of the standards will depend on the weight of the aircraft and whether they are new models. The standards are expected to cut CO2 emissions from aircraft by 650mn metric tonnes between 2020 and 2040.

The standards must still be approved by the 36-member governing council of the UN aviation body. ICAO is also working on a proposal to create a carbon offset system to help the industry reduce emissions.

Today's finding covers emissions of six major GHGs from engines used in a wide range of commercial aircraft, from smaller jets like the Cessna Citation CJ2+, which can carry six passengers, to the Airbus A380, which can carry up to 850 passengers. The finding does not apply to military jets or smaller turboprop aircraft, EPA said.