EPA Issues First-Ever Airplane Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards

On December 28, 2020, the EPA finalized its first greenhouse gas ("GHG") emission standards that apply to certain new commercial airplanes, including all large passenger jets. According to the EPA, covered aircrafts ¹ subject to the rule make up twelve percent of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, and three percent of total GHG emissions in the United States.²

The final rule adopts standards equivalent to the carbon dioxide ("CO2") emissions standards issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization ("ICAO") in 2017 in an effort to create international uniformity in aviation regulations and standards. Without uniformity, nations could ban the use of any non-ICAO-complying airplane within their airspace. Further, if EPA's regulations were not at least as stringent as ICAO standards, U.S. airplane manufacturers could be forced to seek CO2 emissions certification from an aviation certification authority of another country, rather than the