U.S. airlines lobbied against plans to monitor the damage caused by airplane emissions, in a previously undisclosed meeting with the European Commission, the Guardian has reported.
Minutes of the meeting obtained via freedom of information requests show lobbyists from Airlines for America and some of its member companies argued against including flights to and from destinations outside Europe in draft rules to report aircraft pollution beyond carbon dioxide. The group argued there was uncertainty in the science around contrails — the heat-trapping white lines that can stain the sky behind aircraft — and expressed concerns that the rules could influence pricing.
Aircraft engines spew a host of gases that warp the climate at high altitudes, including nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and water vapour. Scientists know less about their effects on global temperatures than those of CO2 but agree they will lead to a hotter planet.
The European Commission’s proposal — which would apply to flights within Europe from 2025 and flights outside from 2027 — has divided the aviation industry.