Recommendations regarding a CO2 cap for aviation

In the Civil Aviation Policy Memorandum 2020-2050 (Luchtvaartnota 2020-2050), the Rutte III government adopted and established the climate goals and ambitions of the Sustainable Aviation Agreement (Akkoord Duurzame Luchtvaart). This means that CO2 emissions of flights departing from the Netherlands must be reduced to at least 2005 levels by 2030. By 2050, emissions must be halved and by 2070, flights departing from the Netherlands should no longer emit CO2. The government is developing a CO2 cap to secure the climate targets set out in the Civil Aviation Policy Memorandum 2020-2050: this instrument should guarantee that the CO2 limit is not exceeded.

CE Delft has provided the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat) with recommendations on the format of the CO2 cap. It has prepared five reports in this context. The reports are part of the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management’s letter to the Second Chamber: Letter accompanying National CO2 cap package

1. Recommendations for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, I&W) on the CO2 cap: Task 1 – Securing national aviation targets through the EU ETS or CORSIA
   Can the targets of the Civil Aviation Policy Memorandum 2020-2050 be secured by adapting existing international instruments, namely the EU ETS or CORSIA? We conclude that these instruments are unsuitable because their basic principles are incompatible with the national in-sector reduction targets of the Sustainable Aviation Agreement.
2. Recommendations for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, I&W) on the CO2 cap: Task 2 – A national emissions trading system for aviation
   A closed national emissions trading system for the Netherlands aviation sector could be suitable to implement the CO2 cap. We describe the choices possible in the design of the instrument and make estimates of the effects it would have for individual parties in the Netherlands aviation sector.
3. Recommendations for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, I&W) on the CO2 cap: Task 3 – A fuel variant of the emissions cap
   One interpretation of the CO cap is the potential to regulate aviation fuel suppliers. We describe the choices that must be made and the potential impact.
4. Recommendations for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, I&W) on the CO2 cap: Task 4 – International effects of the various variants
   The CO2 cap can be implemented in several ways, namely by regulating airports, fuel suppliers or airlines. The report examines what international impact and responses can be expected for the various variants.

Recommendations for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, I&W) on the CO2 cap: Task 5 – Policy advice on international engagement
This study identified the international force field for the CO2 cap. Our focus extended beyond the options of a CO2 cap and considered which countries might be potential supporters or opponents of the instrument. We describe the arguments that supporters and opponents might put forward and advise how the Netherlands can best deal with them.