On Thursday June 22nd, more than 20 European consumer organizations including Testaankoop in Belgium and its European umbrella organization BEUC, filed a complaint with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) against 17 airlines. The organizations want action against the misleading greenwashing claims and are calling for an investigation to stop it. In cases where passengers have paid extra for a “greener” flight, the organizations are asking for refunds.
According to a study coordinated by BEUC, these claims are unfair trade practices. The companies on the list include: Air Baltic, Air Dolomiti, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Ryanair, SAS, SWISS, TAP, Volotea, Vueling, Wizz Air.
Whether passengers pay a ‘green fare’ or not, their flight still emits gases that are harmful to the climate.
Laura Clays, spokesperson for Testaankoop
“Airlines must stop giving consumers the impression that they are choosing a sustainable mode of transportation,” said Laura Clays, spokesperson for Testaankoop. “Instead, to reduce emissions, it is essential to steer consumers toward more sustainable modes of transportation. Our politicians must promote solutions that offer consumers reliable, attractive and sustainable alternatives, such as better quality long-distance train connections.”
Data from EASA reveals that air traffic is responsible for a large and ever-growing share of greenhouse gas emissions that air traffic is responsible for a large and ever-growing share of greenhouse gas emissions. According to research by Testaankoop, several airlines make it appear that passengers can “offset” or “neutralize” the CO2 emissions of their flights. Other airlines suggest an additional contribution, for the development of SAFs (Sustainable Aviation Fuels).
These SAFs are not yet ready to be commercialized on a large scale, and European legislation sets very low targets for their share in the fuel mix (2% by 2025). Until SAFs become massively available – probably not until after the 2030s – they make up at best a very small part of aircraft kerosene tanks. Airlines hint that it is possible to fly “sustainable” or “green,” while none of the strategies employed by the airline industry can prevent greenhouse gas emissions.
Testaankoop and the other organizations are calling for a European investigation to end these misleading practices. In cases where passengers have paid extra to fly “green,” the organizations are asking for a refund. This is the case with Brussels Airlines, which charges a significant surcharge for “Economy Green.” For example, the difference between Economy and Economy Green is 30 euros for a flight from Brussels to Marrakech in September.
“Whether passengers pay a ‘green fare’ or not, their flight still emits gases that are harmful to the climate,” said Clays. “Technological solutions to decarbonize aviation will not become a large-scale reality anytime soon.”
Greenpeace denounces European airlines misleading practices
In early June, a report released by Greenpeace denounced greenwashing practices by several European airlines. The environmental NGO unveiled the ugly truth behind the green marketing conducted by airlines concluding that there is little to no substance to the claims they make regarding how they will manage to curb emissions to deliver the targets agreed under the Paris Agreement — to keep global warming well below 2°C.
To be in line with the targets, European airlines would need to reduce at least 2% of flights annually by 2040. However, none of the companies analyzed has annual reduction goals for its greenhouse gas emissions, has committed to reduce flights, or pledged to fully decarbonize by 2040.
The airlines at stake include Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, IAG (including British Airways and Iberia), Ryanair, easyJet, SAS, and TAP Air Portugal — which are all accused of relying on ‘false and inefficient’ solutions such as ‘carbon neutrality’, carbon offsetting, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to tackle emissions.
