MEPs and EU member states agreed last night on the reduction of aviation pollutant emissionsn imposing a minimum percentage of “green” fuel for planes departing from Europe.

The text, which is one aspect of the ambitious European climate plan, predicti that the fuels available at EU airports will include in their composition at least 2% “sustainable aviation fuel” (SAF) in 2025, then 6% in 2030 and their proportion will gradually increase up to 70% by in 2050, it is clarified in a communication of the European Parliament.

Sta “sustainable fuels” include synthetic fuels (produced from hydrogen and CO2), hydrogen, fuels from exhaust gases and plastic waste or even biofuels derived from agricultural residues, algae, biomass or used cooking oil.

The target for 2050 falls short of the percentage requested by MEPs (85%), but clearly exceeds the initial proposal of the European Commission (63%) which has been ratified by the states.

The agreement predicts for 2030 minimum ratio of 1.2% of synthetic fuels in the kerosene provided by European airports, well above what the Commission proposed, as well as the states (0.7%). This proportion will increase to 2% in 2032, then 5% in 2035 and reach 35% in 2050.

Synthetic fuels are the only ones “whose use can be increased sustainably”, says Matteo Mirolo of the non-governmental organization Transport&Environment (T&E). By encouraging their production, “the agreement offers companies the certainty that synthetic jet fuel (e-kerosene) will become less expensive and widely available,” he points out.

The text excludes biofuels derived from edible plant crops or from palm oil by-products, but not those from used cooking oils, “the supply of which is however limited in Europe, which risks leading to shortages in other industries”, which could then switch to palm oil , T&E reports expressing its concern.

The agreement opens the door for future legislative reviews of the issue to consider not only carbon dioxide (but also sulfur and other) emissions that make up two-thirds of aviation’s climate impact.

Another text of the European climate plan, which was ratified yesterday, Tuesday, by the 27, envisages forcing companies to pay for the carbon dioxide emissions of their flights within Europe, with the gradual abolition from 2024 of the free quotas enjoyed until now, but also with an incentive mechanism to use sustainable fuels.