The warning comes as the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, has remained effectively closed for more than six weeks amid escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The strait typically handles around 20% of global oil and gas flows, making it a vital artery for jet fuel exports from the Gulf to international markets.

A fragile supply chain under pressure

According to the IEA, Europe relies heavily on the Middle East for its aviation fuel needs, with around 75% of its jet fuel imports traditionally coming from the region. With these supplies disrupted, European countries are now scrambling to secure alternative sources, notably from the United States and Nigeria.

However, the agency cautioned that even with a rapid increase in exports from these countries, replacement volumes may only cover just over half of the lost supply. If Europe fails to replace at least 50% of its Middle Eastern imports, “physical shortages may emerge at select airports, resulting in flight cancellations and reduced demand,” the IEA said in its latest oil market report.

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, warned that the consequences could soon become visible to travellers. “In Europe, we have maybe six weeks or so of jet fuel left,” he said, adding that continued disruption could lead to cancellations on certain routes between cities.

Rising costs and early disruption signals

The crisis has already sent jet fuel prices soaring. Benchmark European jet fuel prices reached a record €1,387 per tonne earlier this year, compared with around €627 before the conflict began. Fuel typically accounts for between 20% and 40% of airline operating costs, placing significant financial pressure on carriers.

Several airlines are beginning to feel the impact. easyJet reported an additional €29 million in fuel costs in March alone due to the crisis, despite having hedged a large share of its fuel in advance. Meanwhile, KLM announced it would cancel 160 European flights in the coming month, citing rising fuel costs, although it stressed that it is not currently facing a physical shortage.

Industry groups are also preparing for potential disruption. Airlines UK said it is in discussions with the government about possible support measures, including reducing regulatory burdens, should the situation deteriorate.

JUST IN: Global aviation fuel prices rise 66% to $4.69 per gallon due to Iran war. pic.twitter.com/tNfi1004wd

— BRICS Monitor (@BRICStracker) April 11, 2026

No shortages yet, but risks ahead

Despite the warnings, authorities maintain that there is currently no immediate shortage. The European Commission said there is “no evidence of fuel shortages” in the European Union at present, with crude oil supplies to refineries remaining stable. However, it acknowledged that supply pressures could emerge in the near future if disruptions continue.

Analysts suggest that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon, the effects will linger. Rebalancing global supply chains and restoring fuel flows could take several weeks, raising concerns ahead of the peak summer travel season.

“There could still be shortages in some areas of Europe,” said Amaar Khan of Argus Media, noting that major hubs such as Heathrow are likely to be prioritised over smaller airports.

A wider economic risk

Beyond aviation, the crisis could have broader implications for the global economy. The IEA has warned that prolonged disruption could push countries towards slower growth or even recession, driven by higher energy prices and supply constraints.

With more than 80 energy assets in the region reportedly damaged and recovery potentially taking months or even years, the outlook remains uncertain.

For now, Europe’s aviation sector is racing against time to secure alternative fuel supplies. Whether those efforts will be enough to avoid disruption during the busy summer months remains an open question.

L’article Could Europe run out of jet fuel in six weeks? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Following the US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February 2026, oil prices rose “rapidly,” a T&E statement said, hitting €2.06 per litre for diesel, and €1.89 per litre for petrol, by 23 March—increases of €0.49 and €0.27, respectively. Filling a 55-litre diesel tank now costs almost €27 more than it did before the conflict began, and €15 more for a petrol car, the green group points out.

Commenting on the price inflation, Daniel Quiggin, senior policy advisor at T&E, said: “Once again drivers’ pain is oil companies’ gain. Oil companies have every incentive to keep Europe hooked on fossil fuels, as they’re the ones benefiting from price spikes. The EU should reinstate its tax on excess profit and invest the proceeds in the electrification and renewables that will finally break that cycle.”

By “reinstatement” Quiggin is referring to the EU’s introduction of a 33% levy in 2022, charged on fossil fuel profits above 20% the 2018 to 2021 average. The tax raised an estimated €28 billion between 2022–23 and is a mechanism that “exists and should be used again,” says T&E.

The group also notes that European diesel refining margins have risen at a rate above other regions, reflecting what it calls Europe’s “structural shortfall” in domestic refining capacity. By contrast, it says, petrol margins have been “more subdued due to high inventories in the US and Europe, as well as weak seasonal demand, whereas the EU remains more structurally dependent on diesel than petrol imports.”

With around 20% of Europe’s diesel imported, even with a levy imposed on excess profits, most of that money will be made by companies headquartered in non-EU jurisdictions, which T&E acknowledges limits the effectiveness of any EU-based windfall tax.

Aside from the immediate human cost of the conflict, the hostilities in the Middle East have also raised environmental concerns about Asian countries turning back the clock on the green transition. With supplies of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)—considered a key transition fuel because it emits up to 50% less and significantly fewer pollutants than coal and oil—stuck for weeks in the Strait of Hormuz, major coal producers and importers such as Bangladesh, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, and South Korea are boosting domestic coal production and stockpiling, causing fears that climate goals are being deprioritised. T&E is just one of many campaign groups arguing that the Gulf crisis is a reason to step up the green transition, not slow it down.

L’article Oil firms to make €24 billion excess profits from European drivers this year, green group says est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A shortage of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a major concern since supplies are 80% down in Asia, a region where many nations rely on it for electricity and fertiliser production. Around 20% of the world’s supplies are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, under blockade due to the recent Israeli-US attacks on Iran and Iran’s retaliation. Coal has been described as “the fastest, cheapest way” to replace LNG by Henning Gloystein, managing director of energy and resources at Eurasia Group.

Coal prices surge to a 2-year high, up 26% since the Iran war outbreak, hitting $133/ton.

Europe & Asia turn to coal as gas prices soar, with EU, Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan, and Bangladesh increasing coal use.

Prices could nearly double to $250/ton if conflict drags on. https://t.co/B8s8uSlNtO pic.twitter.com/9uC7LVEadm

— Russian Market (@runews) March 5, 2026

Indonesia, one of the world’s largest coal exporters by trade value (alongside Kazakhstan, Russia, Colombia, and Mongolia), is prioritising domestic supply chains over exports, limiting regional availability further.

The knock-on effect means Bangladesh has boosted both generation ​and imports of coal-fired power. India, almost 75% dependent on coal for power, is operating at maximum coal-fired generation and has cancelled planned stoppages. Vietnam is already considering importing coal from the United States and Laos, according to energy market tracker Argus Media.

South Korea has said it will postpone the closure of its coal-fired power plants, which were timetabled for 2040, and has eased cost penalties on electricity produced from coal. The Philippines is also increasing coal-burning under national emergency measures. Similarly, Japanese officials have approved an Industry Ministry temporary reprieve on coal-fired power plant restrictions, allowing older, less efficient coal-fired plants to continue running for the next fiscal year. The country’s thermal power plants, which supply 70% of its needs, are 30% reliant on oil and 30% reliant on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

GLOBAL COAL consumption is increasingly concentrated in Asia especially China, India and Indonesia. Asia accounted for 83% of global consumption in 2024 up from 49% in 2000 and 28% in 1980. China, India and Indonesia’s combined share grew to 73% up from 37% and 20% over the same… pic.twitter.com/TJxhfsvqp6

— John Kemp (@JKempEnergy) September 23, 2025

While most experts warn that the Middle East crisis is having a regressive effect on global climate goals, some hold out hope that it could serve to accelerate the drive towards renewables, as seen with India’s greenlighting of wind power plants and battery energy storage systems.

Yoko Mulholland of climate think-tank E3G told AFP that using coal as a fallback will not only “deepen the risk that Japan will not meet its goal of phasing out inefficient coal plants by 2030” but also lock the island nation “into a vicious cycle of fossil-fuel dependence” delaying  domestic energy self-sufficiency.” She called instead for Japan to “fully embrace renewable energy as a strategic national asset.”

Pauline Heinrichs, a climate and energy specialist at King’s College, London, agrees, noting that “economies that have a substantial amount of renewable energy are in fact less vulnerable,” and adding: “This is the moment to break that cycle of responding to short-term fossil fuel induced shocks with investments in fossil fuels, because they’re never short-term – they’re always long-term infrastructure investments of sorts.”

L’article Asian fossil fuel reliance exposed by Middle East oil crisis as clock turns back on climate goals est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The first shipment consists of 22 railway tanker wagons carrying AI 95 petrol produced by Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR. In total, the consignment amounts to 1,210 tonnes of fuel and is travelling to Armenia via Georgian territory. The export follows an agreement reached on 28 November during a meeting in Gabala between Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.

Officials in both countries have emphasised that the transaction is commercial in nature, with the petrol sold in line with international market prices. While the shipment is limited in volume, its execution by rail is widely seen as symbolically significant, as rail links between Azerbaijan and Armenia have remained largely inactive for many years.

“This decision by Azerbaijan represents a constructive step that will contribute to confidence-building measures between Azerbaijan and Armenia”, explains Ambassador Vaqif Sadiqov, Head of the Mission of Azerbaijan to the EU. “It will also help foster an environment of good neighborhood, paving the way for further cooperation in trade and economic relations in the region,” he concluded.

From agreement to implementation

The fuel shipment stems from discussions held in late November, when senior officials from Azerbaijan and Armenia met to explore confidence-building measures and practical steps to restore economic links. According to officials familiar with the talks, energy cooperation was identified as one area where limited but tangible progress could be achieved.

The resumption of rail-based fuel exports demonstrates that dialogue between the two sides is being translated into operational outcomes. For decades, cross-border trade and transport between Azerbaijan and Armenia were disrupted by conflict and closed borders, limiting economic interaction and regional mobility.

The current export has been described as a one-time shipment, though analysts note that it could serve as a testing ground for future commercial exchanges if political conditions remain stable.

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Georgia’s role as a transit hub

The delivery is being routed through Georgia, highlighting the country’s continued role as a key transit and logistics hub in the South Caucasus. Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development confirmed that it received an application in early December related to the fuel transit from Azerbaijan to Armenia.

By decision of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgian Railways was instructed to carry out the rail transportation immediately and free of charge. The move underscores Georgia’s interest in supporting regional connectivity and facilitating cooperation between neighbouring states.

Georgia has long positioned itself as a bridge between Europe and the Caucasus, and the transit of fuel by rail reinforces its strategic importance in regional transport networks.

Energy supply context in Armenia

For Armenia, the arrival of fuel from Azerbaijan adds a new element to its energy supply landscape. Armenia currently imports more than 60% of its fuel from Russia, amounting to approximately 230,000 tonnes of petrol and 175,000 tonnes of diesel in 2024. The remaining volumes are sourced from Iran, Romania, Malta, and Turkey.

Although the Azerbaijani shipment represents only a small fraction of Armenia’s overall fuel consumption, it introduces an additional supplier at a time when many countries are seeking to diversify energy sources and improve supply resilience.

The fuel being delivered, AI 95 petrol, is a premium unleaded grade commonly used in modern vehicles. Depending on regional terminology, it is often referred to as super or regular petrol and is widely sold across Europe and neighbouring markets.

A wider impact for travel and mobility

From a travel perspective, the reopening of rail routes, even for commercial freight, is closely watched by regional observers. Transport connectivity is a key factor in tourism development, cross-border mobility, and people-to-people exchanges. While the current agreement focuses strictly on fuel exports, it represents a shift in mindset that could influence future discussions on infrastructure and movement.

Georgia’s role as a transit country further underlines its position as a regional connector between the Caucasus and Europe. As trade routes are gradually restored, travellers and businesses alike may benefit from improved logistics, smoother border procedures, and enhanced regional cooperation.

As the South Caucasus continues to navigate a complex post-conflict landscape, the resumption of rail-based fuel exports stands as one of the clearest signs that dialogue is beginning to translate into action.

L’article Azerbaijan allows cargo transit to Armenia via its territory est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Car manufacturers, automotive suppliers, and fuel companies are currently lobbying the EU to allow new combustion engines to run on biofuels after the bloc’s 2035 cut-off point and be deemed “zero emissions.” But Transport & Environment (T&E) has said in its latest report that biofuels are not truly carbon neutral and could increase CO₂ emissions by up to 23% in 2050 if the automotive lobby is successful.

Worse, T&E says, “planes and ships alone will require roughly double the amount of advanced biofuels than can be sustainably sourced in Europe,” and that’s without adding the automotive sector’s needs into the equation. Running a car on animal fats instead of transitioning to purely electric vehicles, T&E claims, “would require the equivalent of 120 pigs a year” per vehicle. European cars already use 1.3 million tonnes of animal fats per year – equivalent to 200 million slaughtered pigs.

Any additional demand driven by changes to the 2035 deadline could lead to cars, planes and ships consuming between two and nine times more advanced biofuels than can be sustainably sourced in the future, T&E has calculated. As a result, they warn that if the EU agrees to the “loophole,” aviation’s decarbonisation will be put at risk. At most, the group says, biofuel-powered cars should be limited to just five percent of 5% of sales.

Lucien Mathieu, cars director at T&E, has dubbed the push for biofuels “absurd,” pointing out that “Europeans can’t eat enough pork or fries to sustainably run even a fraction of Europe’s cars, let alone its ships and planes. Why are the car and oil lobbies flogging non-solutions when we have a ready technology in electric cars? This is nothing but a delay tactic that will leave Europe uncompetitive in the global EV market.”

The EU legislated in 2018 to limit the use of crop-based fuels and prioritise used cooking oil, animals, and other waste-based sources, which, Reuters reports, now account for about half of bio-based diesel in the EU. But, as 60% of biofuels and 80% of cooking oil, are imported into the bloc, T&E warns that high demand is already encouraging fraud, with sources such as palm oil mislabelled as waste. The risk of such fraud would only increase with greater dependency, T&E argue.

The controversy is not the first time biofuel use has hit the headlines in recent weeks. At Brazil’s recent COP30, a group of 100 scientists asked global leaders to recognise the risks associated with biofuel expansion, which they argue are worse than the fossil fuels they replace due to high-emissions crop cultivation, “equivalent to nearly 30 million new diesel cars on the road.”

Biofuel production, they said, damages natural ecosystems, especially in biodiverse and carbon-rich regions due to the consumption of “scarce water resources” and the production of “agricultural runoff.” As the debate now continues on the European stage, the European Commission is set to reveal its package of automotive industry support on 10 December 2026. 

L’article Biofuel market riddled with fraud, not sustainable or truly carbon neutral, campaigners say est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Their study, funded by the Singaporean Ministry of Education, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, and the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology was published in ACS Central Science journal, explains how they harnessed a principle known as “plug flow” by allowing water to flow from a tower through a metal needle into a narrow tube in short bursts. This caused the droplets to form short columns of water separated by air pockets.

Materials coming into contact with each other can gain or lose their surface charges – witness the way rubbing a balloon on one’s hair creates “static electricity.” So, as the spurts of water and air then passed through the 32-cm tall, 2mm-wide vertical polymer tube and against its conductive inner skin into a cup positioned below, the unbalanced electrical surface charges separated and were harvested by wires.

'Plug Flow: Generating Renewable Electricity with Water from Nature by Breaking the Limit of Debye Length' in ACS Central Science was featured as an ACS Science Release.

Read the release: https://t.co/wki3sZ8XPY
Read the article: https://t.co/0fZzlZ0Ew5 pic.twitter.com/TxJfk0CGBt

— ACS Publications (@ACSPublications) April 29, 2025

The experiment managed to convert more than 10% of the energy of the water falling through the tubes into electricity – a far more efficient result than previously thought possible. What’s more, that positive result was produced in conditions where the droplets were flowing far more slowly than rainfall, leading the researchers to hypothesise that a rainfall system could generate even more energy, even more efficiently.

Taking things a step further, the chemical and biomolecular engineers then tried sending the water through two tubes, both simultaneously and sequentially, and were able to double the energy output. This led them to try chanelling the water through four tubes, via which they successfully powered 12 LEDs (light-emitting-diodes) for 20 seconds.

While the idea of hydroelectricity usually conjures images of gigantic, costly, and sometimes damaging infrastructure such as damns, water turbines, and power plants, along large bodies of water like rivers, the Singapore team has proven a process that indicates clean and renewable electricity could be generated from much smaller amounts of water – even raindrops. It’s a more human-sized technology that could be installed in urban locations, such as in the roofs of dwellings and other buildings, they point out.

“The setup is simple; no equipment is needed,” the researchers explain. “Hence, it is inexpensive and environmentally friendly to install, operate, and maintain,” and they add: “scaling up can be achieved readily in three dimensions for large-scale harvesting of energy from nature. It can be used anywhere, including in urbanized areas.”

L’article Singaporean scientists turn raindrops into electricity in clean energy breakthrough est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The measurements were taken from a coastal buoy placed by the Hydrographic Institute’s national monitoring network (MONIZEE) near Faro, the country’s southernmost district. They averaged 25.1°C, which is “significantly higher” than the last two decades’ average, the Portuguese Navy’s website says.

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Average temperatures hit “Extreme” levels

The naval statement goes on to explain that the conditions for a “marine heatwave” are met when daily sea temperatures exceed the 90^th percentile of averages for that region and season, for at least five consecutive days. In this instance, the data spanned 28 June to 9 July.

What’s more, the daily sea temperatures recorded “exceeded the average temperature by more than 5°C” and so fall into “the category of marine heatwave considered extreme”, the Navy website went on.

Since that high point, sea temperatures in the region have dropped back to normal, and now sit between 18 and 20°C, but periods of high sea temperatures have been found by scientists to have a catastrophic effect on ecosystems and habitats such as the coral reefs, sea grass meadows, and kelp forests that provide food and shelter for a wide array of marine life.

Here is a visualization of the remarkable marine heatwave in the Mediterranean.

These temperatures are incredibly anomalous and are among the highest ever observed for this time of year. pic.twitter.com/1EkrfbABhi

— Andrew Austin-Adler (@WeathermanAAA_) July 7, 2025

Risk to human life

The same study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in April 2025, points out that as well as affecting aquatic creatures and organisms, high sea temperatures are behind supercharged storms and deadly weather systems that cause flooding and other risks to humanity – who are driving the problem by burning fossil fuels. Marine heatwaves are becoming not only more frequent but hotter, and half of them in the last quarter century would not have occurred without the effect of global warming, the researchers said.

As well as affecting agriculture and the fishing industry, waters that are warmer than usual are said to have contributed to recent disasters such as the Persian Gulf Floods of 2024, which cancelled over 1,200 flights at Dubai Airport, the sinking of the Bayesian yacht in the same year off the coast of Sicily, with the loss of seven lives, and flash floods in Jordan in 2025, that resulted in mass evacuations of tourists from Petra and claimed the lives of a Belgian mother and her son.

L’article Portuguese sea temperatures hit “extreme” highs qualifying as “marine heatwave” est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

On 17 July 2025, the aviation industry – represented by the DESTINATION 2050 partners, fuel suppliers (Fuels Europe, Hydrogen Europe, Project SkyPower), and cargo and express delivery operators (European Cargo Alliance, European Express Association) – released a joint call regarding the matter. According to the sector, the affordable SAF deployment across Europe is meeting many challenges.

At the moment, HEFA‑based fuels (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) are the only commercially available option. However, compared to conventional kerosene, these fuels represent a substantial cost increase. While the next generation of Sustainable Aviation Fuels is underway, including e‑SAF and advanced biofuels, their development struggles to find investors. Reaching Final Investment Decisions (FID) in particular proves to be difficult. 

“By setting SAF mandates, ReFuelEU Aviation provided the ‘sticks’ needed for legal certainty, but failed to provide the ‘carrots’ – namely, the financial incentives and flexibility mechanisms required to ensure SAF is produced at scale and at competitive prices. Today, the industry has come together to present a 10‑point plan to address this imbalance. It is now crucial that the Commission moves swiftly to create the supportive policy environment needed to develop Europe’s SAF market. Only then can we remain globally competitive and achieve our shared goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Stefan Schulte commented, ACI EUROPE President and CEO of Fraport.

The 10‑point action plan presented by the industry players addresses these disadvantages and catalyses the scale‑up of SAF production and deployment. According to the plan, some regulatory and financial measures are needed to de‑risk investment, allowing to bridge the significant cost gap, which is needed to decarbonise air transport. New instruments to overcome market failures should be established, greater regulatory certainty should be created, and existing instruments should be built upon by the European Commission. 

“ReFuelEU Aviation is the backbone of Europe’s SAF strategy, but its success relies on swift, coordinated action to resolve the remaining investment and implementation barriers. SAF is no longer a distant solution, it is a reality that must scale now. It presents the opportunity to improve the EU’s energy security, strengthen its economic prosperity and bolster climate innovation. We urge policymakers at EU and national levels to take immediate action and work together with industry to ensure a timely and robust ramp-up of SAF in Europe. This call for action for SAF should form part of a more comprehensive and dedicated EU aviation & aeronautics strategy (including new aircraft and engine technology, ATM, carbon removals, industrial aspects etc.) to deliver a leading, competitive and sustainable European industry,” the call reads.

The plan was handed over on 17 July 2025 to Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, during a special Implementation Dialogue. With the European Commission soon to unveil its Sustainable Transport Investment Plan in Q3 2025, the 10‑point action plan was released at a decisive moment.  

L’article European aviation sector calls for increased policy support on Sustainable Aviation Fuels  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Adopted in April 2025, this initiative aims to align climate goals with economic relief. But the impact could disrupt how Europeans travel – affecting everything from commuting to and holiday flights to public transport.

Fossil fuel subsidies, government measures like tax breaks, exemptions, or direct financial support, lower the cost of producing and consuming coal, oil, and gas. In 2023, EU fossil fuel subsidies reached €111 billion, representing more than a third of all existing energy subsidies. These subsidies directly influence travel costs. Despite EU attempts to mandate annual reporting on subsidy phase-outs, the EESC reported that these efforts have had limited impact.

Time to tackle Europe's #CostOfLiving crisis.

We have launched a bold new initiative to address this with real, long-term solutions for a stronger, fairer, more resilient Europe – for everyone.

Our recommendations will feed into a comprehensive umbrella opinion in July 2025.

— European Economic and Social Committee (@EU_EESC) May 6, 2025

Road transportation

“Diesel and gasoline are taxed more competitively than electricity used for charging EVs [electric vehicles], which means that charging an EV is more expensive than using diesel and gasoline,” said Corina Murafa Benga, EESC rapporteur and co-founder of the Romanian Energy Poverty Observatory. She noted that electricity is taxed three to four times higher than gas, undermining incentives to switch to cleaner alternatives.

Subsidies on petrol and diesel keep fuel prices low, making driving more affordable in countries like Germany, Poland, and France, which together accounted for over 60% of EU fossil fuel subsidies in 2023. Without these subsidies, fuel costs could skyrocket, impacting commuters, road trippers, and logistics companies.

Moreover, in 2023, The Brussels Times reported that Belgium alone had spent a total of €2.79 billion “subsidising the sale of diesel fuel” since 2019. Later, a 2024 report by the NGO Transport & Environment revealed that subsidies for company cars powered by petrol or diesel cost EU taxpayers €42 billion per year in just five countries.

Air transportation and rail transportation

Aviation benefits significantly, particularly from tax exemptions on kerosene (jet fuel). This keeps airfares low, especially for budget airlines. Withdrawing these subsidies could increase ticket prices, potentially pushing travellers towards train.

“A low-cost airline is four times cheaper between Brussels and Paris than a train between the two capitals,” Murafa Benga highlighted the discrepancy. Removing the kerosene exemption would raise airline operating costs that will likely be passed on to passengers. Currently, airlines are exempt from excise duties on their fuel. Additionally, airlines enjoy both fuel duty exemptions and VAT relief on international tickets.

Despite rail’s greener profile, high-speed train fares often outpace budget airfares. A round-trip flight within the EU can cost as little as €40–100 but remains carbon-intensive due to emissions during take-off and landing.

By 2030, #Compliance costs for airlines could hit €27.6B.

Key drivers:
#ETS costs & #SAF mandate implementation: +€6.2B
Taxation: +€1.4B
Operational costs: +€1.5B
#SES inefficiencies: +€2.9B

It is time to act to keep aviation competitive. pic.twitter.com/48euVj2KSf

— Airlines for Europe (A4E) (@A4Europe) May 6, 2025

Public transport

Public transport operators could also face higher fuel or energy costs, especially in regions reliant on diesel-powered buses or trains. Without government intervention, fares might rise, disproportionately affecting low-income households. However, the EESC suggests using savings from subsidy cuts to fund greener alternatives, which could ultimately stabilize or even reduce fares.

What’s at stake?

The EESC calls for a “responsible” phase-out to balance environmental benefits with economic and social needs.  Fossil fuel subsidies, the committee argues, are often poorly targeted and disproportionately benefit wealthier households. The European Commission is being urged to set concrete phase-out timelines and milestones to guide this transition.

“If you phase out fossil fuel subsidies,” Murafa Benga warns, “fuel costs for clients that use diesel and gasoline would increase.” This might encourage consumers to shift to EVs, though upfront costs and charging infrastructure remain barriers. However, Murafa Benga noted that member states can think of programs through which they can compensate for the increases through subsidies to switch to EV or public transport.

The rapporteur emphasized the need for a just transition. “Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is critical for climate action, but we must protect vulnerable groups,” she said. “By redirecting savings to affordable public transport and energy-efficient mobility, we can ease the cost-of-living crisis while building a sustainable future.”

She also pointed out the imbalance in current policies, exempting yachts and luxury boats. “Nobody is aware of these things,” she said.

Looking ahead

The EESC’s proposal comes at a pivotal moment. With transport costs already straining budgets, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies could add short-term pressure but also catalyse a shift toward greener, more equitable mobility. Murafa Benga points to Austria’s Klimabonus, a direct payment to citizens to offset rising fuel costs from taxing fossil fuel-intensive transportation introduced in 2022, as a model for supporting travellers during the transition.

According to the document, only six of the 27 EU member states had expressed an intention to fully phase out fossil fuel subsidies, bugt without specific deadlines. For now, the EESC’s plan is a call to action, signalling that the era of cheap fossil fuel travel may be nearing its end.

L’article How phasing out fossil fuel subsidies can reshape travel costs in Europe? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The scientists examined over 1,092 scenarios for cutting carbon emissions by 2060 in each of 236 countries around the world. They developed a new “trade risk index” based on the availability of domestic energy reserves, import levels, and the blend of supplies in various nations, such as fossil, nuclear, and renewables, as well as trade flows.

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For most “a win for energy security”

Minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium, and nickel, essential to clean energy technologies, are more prevalent in the Global South, meaning “the geopolitics of energy and global trade” would shift under a 2060 net-zero scenario, a Stanford news release on the study says. Nations that have large oil reserves, like Russia and Saudi Arabia, are among the few whose energy supply chain would become more vulnerable under net zero.

But for most “in a net-zero emissions system in the future, trading off the reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels and increased dependence on these new materials is actually a win for energy security,” the paper’s senior author, Stanford Doerr’s Earth System Science professor, Steve Davis. Even countries like the United States, which is fossil-fuel-rich but poor in minerals that are critical to the green transition, could improve energy security through the switch, with the right trade partners and strategy, the team found. 

Interesting choice of words for the headline.

The reality, if we’re serious about Net Zero and energy security, is that nuclear has a huge role to play.

With wind and solar’s intermittent nature and the need to offset the +30% of electricity generated using gas, it’s… pic.twitter.com/as8iOy9eG6

— The Energy Shop (@_TheEnergyShop) April 8, 2025

Diversification and increased recycling

While a general rule is to diversify and avoid sourcing energy from “a single other party” to reduce the risk that “some natural disaster or geopolitical conflict could disrupt that supply,” Stanford nonetheless notes that “keeping fossil fuels in the mix generally drags down nations’ energy security.” In fact, “the greatest improvements often occur in the countries which most drastically reduce their reliance on fossil fuels,” Davis said.

Increasing recycling rates can also make a huge difference. Trade vulnerabilities could be reduced by 17% – and by over 50% for the US – if today’s “meagre” recycling rates for critical minerals could be quadrupled.

The authors even came up with the ideal blend of US energy by 2060 to keep US trade risks down, applicable to all their modelled scenarios. A mix composed of around 70-75% renewables (e.g. biomass, solar, and wind); 15-20% fossil fuels; and 10% nuclear would minimize the country’s trade risks although other mixes could offer lower costs or less air pollution, the researchers point out. Today, about 83% of the US’s energy needs are met by fossil fuels. 

L’article Reducing reliance on fossil fuels may boost global energy security by 2060, new research finds est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.