An EU report confirms that the tax on aviation would reduce emissions by 11%

Transport is responsible for a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions emitted by the European Union, and a similar percentage in the Spanish State. Within the means of transport, aviation is the one that emits the most _CO2 per passenger.

In addition, in this sector _CO2 emissions have increased by 21% in the last three years in the EU. Something that is very much in relation to the tax exemption that allows flying to be many times the most economical means to move.

And it is that the planes do not pay VAT, nor fuel taxes. It even often receives grants. The imposition of a tax on kerosene would put this medium on an equal footing with other means of transport. It could even make more sustainable means such as the train or the bus cheaper.

For these reasons, a group of students from several European countries have initiated a European citizens’ initiative to end kerosene exemptions, to which Ecologists in Action has joined.

The citizens’ petition must collect at least one million signatures within a year across Europe, which will allow the European Commission to consider introducing a kerosene levy to EU Member States. It would be a regressive tax, which would be taxed more the shorter the flight, since in those cases there are alternatives available by land.

A leaked report by the European Commission has revealed that this kerosene tax would reduce aviation emissions by 11% (16.4 million tonnes of _CO2) and would have no impact on either employment or the economy. In addition, it would raise up to 27 billion euros a year.

The campaign proposes that this extra revenue be used to improve long-distance rail across Europe and improve conditions for more sustainable means of transport. In order not to discriminate against those people living in island territories, it is proposed to maintain the tax exemption for flights to and from islands that are not connected to the mainland by bridges or tunnels.

Ecologists in Action also proposes to relaunch night trains, which have practically disappeared and would allow a large number of domestic and intra-European flights to be replaced.

Nuria Blázquez, transport coordinator of Ecologists in Action has assured that “a kerosene tax is a necessary first step. But we must act more forcefully against the privileges of this means of transport that is harmful to the planet with measures such as a moratorium on the construction of airports, a tax that taxes frequent customers – and that pollute more – or even a cap on annual flights per passenger. In return, other means, such as the train or the bus, must be more economical.”

Source: Ara Info