This month, negotiations on the Paris Agreement implementation continued at the UN climate conference in Bonn, but little progress was made in the closed door talks on future carbon markets. The eventual outcome of these negotiations is set to impact the aviation industry’s new offsetting scheme CORSIA. Ensuring environmental integrity and avoiding double-counting of emission reductions must be paramount for both processes.

Acknowledging the weaknesses of the global aviation deal, lead EU lawmaker has called for international flights to be included in Europe’s carbon market in case the global measure is deemed insufficient to address the sector’s rapidly growing emissions.

The European Parliament’s environment committee voted to reduce loopholes in the bloc’s key climate law, but more decisive action is needed to put us on the right track towards a low-carbon society. As the legislative talks draw to an end, we, therefore, ask if Europe, a self-proclaimed climate leader, is really delivering on its international commitments?