The next several months should be eventful in the promulgation of both international and U.S. standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from commercial aircraft. In February 2016, the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), a body of 170 international experts, convened by the United Nations’ (U.N.) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), unanimously recommended new CO2 emission standards, mainly affecting large (over 60 ton) aircraft. The U.N.’s 36-state Governing Council is expected to make the recommendations official as early as May 2016. Concurrently, the EPA is working toward completion of U.S. CO2 emissions standards for aircraft. The Agency is aiming to finalize a rule by July 2016.
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CAEP’s standards would apply to new aircraft designs beginning in 2020. Also, the standards recognize that new aircraft designs are produced infrequently; therefore, few benefits would result from placing limits only on new designs produced after formal adoption of emissions limits. Accordingly, the standards would also apply to new deliveries of current in-production aircraft designs beginning in 2023. Furthermore, the standards include a cutoff date of 2028 for production of aircraft that do not comply with the standards.