Passengers at the Scandinavian airline SAS booth in the departure hall at Copenhagen Kastrup Airport, Denmark, July 4, 2022.Ólafur Steiner Göstson/Ritzau Scanpics/AFP via Getty Images
Why you can trust us
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content about environmental issues, causes, and solutions.
The Danish government has announced that it will introduce a green tax on air travel, which will be phased in from 2025.
The tax will be added to air tickets and the country is encouraging other European Union countries to follow its example, AFP news agency reported.
As reported by AFP, Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen said in a statement: “The transport sector is currently undergoing a rapid green transition, and with this agreement, this will also apply to aviation.” Stated. “Flying is still possible, but it has to be done in an environmentally friendly way.”
This tax applies to flights departing from Denmark, but not to flights connecting through Denmark.
According to a statement from the Danish Ministry of Taxation, the new tax will be around $7.35 per passenger on intra-European flights by 2030, $45.33 on medium-haul flights and $59.95 on long-haul flights, Reuters reported. Ta.
“I think that over the next few years there will be common European regulations in this area. That would be the right way to go,” Lars Aagaard, Minister of Climate, Energy and Public Utilities, said, AFP reported.
Proceeds from this new measure are expected to contribute to sustainable fuel use in domestic air transport by the end of the decade, and increase bonuses for pensioners with the lowest benefits by around $2.18 billion annually. ing.
According to Our World in Data, transportation as a whole accounts for about a quarter of global carbon emissions in the energy sector. The website points out that cycling and walking are consistently the lowest carbon-emitting modes of transport, and for short journeys, cycling instead of driving reduces emissions by around 75%. % reduction, it added.
Domestic air travel, on the other hand, is the most carbon-intensive mode of transportation.
“Flighting is bad for the climate, which is why we need to equip our aviation sector with green wings,” Aagaard said after the measure was first proposed last month, The Washington Post reported. Ta.
According to the International Energy Agency, in 2022, 2% of all carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector will come from the aviation industry.
“To get on track for net-zero emissions by 2050, we need to reduce emissions growth and ultimately reduce emissions over this decade by using lower-emission fuels, aircraft and engine improvements, and operational (NZE) scenario,” the IEA website states.
CNN reports that the Danish government’s goal is to have the country’s first domestic flight running entirely on green fuel by 2025.
As CNN reported, Aagaard said in November that “Danish aviation, like all other industries, must reduce its impact on climate change and move towards a greener future.” said.
Subscribe and get exclusive updates with our daily newsletter!
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive electronic communications, including marketing promotions, advertisements, and sponsored content, from EcoWatch Media Group.