CO2 emissions from UK-departing flights forecast to exceed 2019 levels this year

CO2 emissions from UK-departing flights are forecast to exceed 2019 levels this year, making London a European emissions “hotspot”, according to a report by transport and environment group T&E.

It highlights the fact that six of the 10 “most-polluting” routes in Europe depart from London, with flights to New York topping the list and departures to Dubai and Singapore in second and third place.

Flights from London to Los Angeles, Doha and Hong Kong also appear in the top 10, with no other airport in Europe appearing more than once.

The report by Brussels-based T&E on UK aviation emissions notes almost one million flights departed UK airports last year, releasing 34.1 million tonnes of CO2 – 95% of the emissions in 2019 – and it argues the UK emissions trading scheme (ETS) “is failing to regulate” these.

It suggests the government could raise “millions in revenues” by extending the ETS, which only applies to domestic flights and those to the European Economic Area, excluding 83% of emissions.

T&E calculates airlines paid £210 million under the UK ETS last year and extending the scheme would increase this to £1.2 billion, saying some of the revenue could be used “to kick-start” sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the UK.

In Europe, airlines paid an estimated £2.7 billion in ETS charges last year as emissions hit 98% of the 2019 level.

However, T&E estimates the EU ETS would have raised £6.5 billion (€7.5 billion) by eliminating allowances and extending the scheme to flights beyond Europe.

Anna Krajinska, T&E UK director, urged the government to extend the scope of the UK scheme “to ensure airlines pay the true cost of their pollution and raise badly needed revenue”.

T&E also called for non-CO2 impacts on climate to be incorporated into the UK ETS, suggesting the scheme has fallen behind the EU’s since Brexit.

It noted “the EU has begun phasing out free allowances” and an EU review of the scheme in 2026 could “expand the scope to all departing flights”, and urged the UK to “consider a similar revision”.