The European Commission (EC) has proposed an amendment of its EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) in order to befit the system to control carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the aviation sector.

As part of the newly forwarded amendment, the EC has proposed to continue with the current geographic scope of the ETS, covering flights between airports in the European economic area.

According to the ETS, airlines will be mandated to monitor and report their annual CO2 emissions on international routes and offset those exceeding 2020 levels.

"We are making sure that the aviation sector also contributes to our climate objectives."

EC has made the latest proposal following an agreement made last year by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (IACO) to stabilise international aviation emissions.

EC climate action and energy commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete said: “With this proposal, we are making sure that the aviation sector also contributes to our climate objectives.

“Now, we call on countries around the world to participate in the global scheme from the beginning and help us finalise and implement sound environmental criteria to deliver real emissions reductions in the aviation sector.”

The commission also noted that its new proposal to review the ETS aims to maintain the contribution of the aviation sector to the European climate objectives.

The review also seeks to facilitate implementation of ICAO’s global market-based measure (GMBM) to restrict aviation emissions.