The Council of the European Union formally adopted a decision on Thursday 25 June stating that the EU will participate in the pilot phase (2021-2023) of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
The institution has also decided to use the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 for the calculation of CO2 offsetting requirements for airlines during this pilot phase, thereby aligning itself with the European Commission's proposal (see EUROPE 12487/19).
Due to the exceptional reduction in aviation emissions this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, this option is likely to lead to higher compensation requirements than if calculations were to be based on 2020 emissions (the other available option), and therefore is likely to be better for the environment, argued the EU Council.
It is important to note that this decision is separate from the decision regarding the choice of reference year for calculating compensation.
Indeed, somewhat to the dismay of environmental NGOs, the Council of the EU has recently taken up a position in favour of the 2019 level of emissions being a new reference point, rather than the average of emissions from 2019 and 2020 (see EUROPE 12502/4). This possible change in the reference period is currently being examined by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)