The European Aviation Environmental Report 2025, compiled by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), paints a stark picture of the challenges and opportunities facing the aviation industry in its quest for sustainability. The report, created in collaboration with the European Commission, European Environment Agency (EEA), and EUROCONTROL, emphasizes the urgency of turning ambitious environmental goals into concrete actions to combat climate change, particularly given the alarming rate of warming in Europe.
A key highlight from the report’s Emissions section is the progress made in decoupling traffic growth from emissions. While the number of flights at EU27+EFTA airports is projected to increase to 11.8 million annually by 2050, the adoption of fuel-efficient technology, operational optimizations, and the implementation of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, promoting sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), are expected to mitigate emissions growth in most scenarios. Notably, the report indicates that flights departing from EU27+EFTA airports emitted 133 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023, a 10% reduction compared to 2019 levels.
Despite these positive developments, the report underscores the need for further action. Market-based measures like the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) are deemed essential to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by mid-century. Additionally, the report calls for measures to address other environmental concerns such as noise pollution and emissions of harmful air pollutants, including ultrafine particles, which pose risks to both human and environmental health. The report stresses that continuous monitoring and timely adjustments will be crucial to keep the aviation sector aligned with its environmental and sustainability objectives.
Source:
AESA. (2025). European Aviation Environmental Report. https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/environment/eaer/downloads