US EPA issues determination on aircraft greenhouse gas emissions

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalised (25-Jul-2016) a determination under the Clean Air Act that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large commercial aircraft engines "contribute to the pollution that causes climate change and endangers Americans' health and the environment". The findings are for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), all of which contribute to GHG pollution that represents the largest driver of human-caused climate change. These particular GHGs come primarily from engines used on large commercial aircraft. Key points of the EPA determination include:

• The agency is not issuing emissions standards for aircraft engines in this action;
• The final endangerment and contribution findings for aircraft engine GHG emissions are an important step that EPA must take prior to adopting domestic GHG engine standards;
• The EPA anticipates that ICAO will formally adopt its environmental committee's Feb-2016 agreement on international aircraft CO2 standards in Mar-2017;
• The agency anticipates moving forward on standards that would be at least as stringent as ICAO's standards;
• The rulemaking process for aircraft GHG emissions will provide opportunities for industry, NGOs and other interested parties to provide their input through public review and comment;
  The findings support the goals of the President's Climate Action Plan to reduce emissions from large sources of carbon pollution. US aircraft emit roughly 12% of GHG emissions from the US transportation sector and 29% of GHG emissions from all aircraft globally. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA consults with the US FAA as it develops aircraft engine emissions standards. By law, any standards EPA sets must not cause a significant increase in noise or adversely affect safety. [more - original PR]

US EPA: "Addressing pollution from aircraft is an important element of U.S. efforts to address climate change. Aircraft are the third largest contributor to GHG emissions in the U.S. transportation sector, and these emissions are expected to increase in the future," Janet McCabe, EPA acting assistant administrator for air and radiation. Source: EPA, 25-Jul-2016.