The environmental protection organization Greenpeace believes, based on a study by the EU Commission, that the harmful effects of air traffic on the climate have been underestimated, confirmed. The NGO also criticizes the fact that the European governments are taking over the industry with around 37 billion euros.

Greenpeace argues that carbon dioxide emissions are not the only problem, and that commercial aircraft also emit other harmful substances. Among other things, nitrogen oxides and contaminated water vapor are mentioned. The impact of these substances would be twice as strong as the carbon dioxide emissions.

The environmental protection organization criticizes the fact that 30 billion euros in financial aid for airlines have already been pledged and a further 7,9 billion euros are currently being negotiated. The granting of the funds would not be tied to any legally binding environmental conditions that would be sufficient to fulfill the Paris Climate Agreement. In particular, the Austrian state aid for Austrian Airlines in the amount of 450 million euros criticizes Greenpeace and accuses “inadequate conditions in terms of climate protection and social equality”.

“The studies by the European Commission show that air traffic is flying us into the climate crisis. Nevertheless, politics allows tens of billions of billions of dollars to flow into airlines' pockets. The recovery funds must be invested in green mobility, which offers solid, sustainable jobs and affordable, accessible transport for all. The Commission must end tax exemptions and ban short-haul flights. The same applies to Austria: We cannot afford any other lifeline for the climate-hostile aviation industry, ”said Greenpeace climate expert Adam Pawloff.

The NGO, with reference to the present study by the EU Commissionthat short-haul flights should be banned. If there is a “clean alternative”, the tax advantages on plane tickets in international traffic are also to be abolished. Investments in rail transport are also required and, at the same time, the EU Commission should protect employees in the aviation industry in order to enable them to have a “fair transition process”.