The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed a final endangerment and contribution findings, which reveal that carbon emissions from certain aircraft engines are a risk to public health and environment.

The confirmation has enabled the EPA to set emission regulation for passenger planes in the US.

The findings noted that carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) have contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution.

These GHGs mainly come from engines used on large commercial jets.

“Addressing pollution from aircraft is an important element of US efforts to address climate change."

EPA further expects that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will formally adopt its environmental committee’s February 2016 agreement on international aircraft CO2 standards next March.

EPA air and radiation acting assistant administrator Janet McCabe said: “Addressing pollution from aircraft is an important element of US efforts to address climate change.

“Aircraft are the third largest contributor to GHG emissions in the US transportation sector, and these emissions are expected to increase in the future.

“EPA has already set effective GHG standards for cars and trucks and any future aircraft engine standards will also provide important climate and public health benefits.”

The new EPA findings support the goals of the US President’s climate action plan to reduce emissions from large sources of carbon pollution.

US aircraft are currently responsible to produce approximately 12% of GHG emissions from the country’s transportation sector and 29% of GHG emissions from all aircraft worldwide.

Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA has discussed with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the agency plans to develop aircraft engine emissions standards.

In 2009, EPA issued similar findings in the field of carbon emissions from new cars and light trucks.