France and its new environmental eco tax on aviation

As airlines around the world continue to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are also facing the prospect of drastic environmental taxes. The French government is looking to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030, and aviation is once again facing the prospect of taxation.

What is being proposed?

France’s Convention Citoyenne pour le Climat (CCC), a citizens’ body created under President Macron, met in September 2020 to outline a series of eco-measures for the aviation sector.

The most controversial element was its proposal for a new environmental tax on airlines, which goes above and beyond what was initially proposed in 2019 when Elisabeth Borne, the country’s transport minister, announced that there would be a tax of €1.50 on economy class tickets and €9 on business class tickets for domestic flights and those within Europe, increasing to €18 for business-class tickets outside of the European Union. CCC suggested much higher rates, namely that for economy class tickets the rate should be:

• €30 per ticket for flights under 2,000 km • €60 euros for flights of over 2,000 km

And for business class:

• €180 per ticket for flights under 2,000 km • €400 per ticket for flights of over 2,000 km

If levied, the tax would raise €4.2 billion in taxes annually. Other measures suggested by the CCC include:

• Banning the construction of new airports

and expansion of existing ones

• Banning domestic flights of under four hours

if there is a low-carbon alternative by 2025 • Adding further taxes on fuel for

recreational flying

• Guaranteeing that emissions are offset by financing “carbon sinks” ( projects that extract C02 from the atmosphere and absorb more carbon than they release) • Supporting the development of biofuels

What impact will this have on the environment?

France’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) found that the proposed measures would reduce emissions by 3.5 million tonnes a year, which equates to less than one per cent of France’s total emissions, though it is unclear what proportion of the money raised ( if any) would then be used to support environmental projects.

How have the proposals been received? The aviation industry is frustrated by the news, especially during the pandemic. Passenger numbers in France have dropped by 80 per cent since March.

The DGAC estimated that the tax would cut the number of air travellers by 14-19 per cent, lead to 150,000 job losses, and cost the French economy €5-6 billion in lost GDP.

According to newspaper Le Monde, France’s

ELEMENT HOTELS, MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL’S eco-focused long-stay accommodation offering, has opened the doors to its second property in Dubai.

Element Al Jaddaf, located in the upand-coming Al Jaddaf district, offers an “eco-friendly concept for guests seeking to maintain a balanced lifestyle while travelling”.

Inspired by nature, the hotel features streamlined furnishings in light natural tones with touches of greenery. Its relaxed and enriching atmosphere, together with its ergonomic design, quiet nooks, sun-filled spaces and pet-friendly amenities intentionally evoke a feeling of comfort and home.

Ideal for business travellers, Element Al Jaddaf houses 269 studios and one- and twobedroom apartments, each with a signature

Heavenly® bed, a spa-inspired bathroom, oversized closets and a fully equipped kitchen.

The one-bedroom apartment, accommodating up to four guests, offers a separate living and sleeping area, sofa bed and a large workspace while the two-bedroom option, accommodating up to six, offers two bathrooms and more expansive living and dining areas.

Breakfast at Rise is complimentary, while the all-day restaurant, Café 26, serves lunch and dinner. With the health and wellbeing of its guests in mind, Element Al Jaddaf is a dry hotel, serving an ample selection of juices, smoothies, coffees and teas.

Facilities also include a business centre with three compact meeting rooms, fitness centre open 24-hours a day and a rooftop pool with city views.

Al Jaddaf is Dubai’s Creekside neighborhood, close to DIFC, Deira, Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall, the Dubai Frame and the Museum of the Future. The area, once famed for its dhow shipyards, is part of Culture Village, home to waterfront promenades, a harbour, cultural and exhibition centres and shopping precincts.

The hotel operates complimentary shuttle services to Dubai Mall, Festival City, La Mer Beach and Al Jaddaf Metro station.

Dublin airport has been recognised as carbon neutral by the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, an organisation that “independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions”.

The Level 3+ carbon neutrality status follows efforts by the airport to reduce its carbon footprint by 12 per cent in 2019, and overall carbon emissions by 25 per cent between 2013 and 2019.

Measures have included the installation of efficient LED lighting, a pilot solar farm project, and the introduction of low emission vehicles (LEVs). The airport is aiming to switch all of its light vehicle fleet to LEVs (pictured above) by 2024, and is also planning a second solar farm, which it says will have the potential to generate up to 7.5 megawatts of power.

In 2019 Dublin airport was one of around 200

European airports to commit to net zero carbon by 2050.