Written question asked by Mark Sewards (Labour) on Friday, 28 August 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Aviation: Carbon Emissions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of monitoring of emissions from aircraft operating in UK airspace.

Answer

The Government considers that existing arrangements provide a robust basis for monitoring aviation emissions. Aircraft operators are required to monitor and report verified CO₂ emissions annually under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and, where applicable, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

The UK also reports aviation emissions through its annual greenhouse gas inventory submitted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. Domestic aviation emissions are included in national totals, while international aviation emissions are reported separately in accordance with international guidance.

These frameworks account for emissions, using internationally recognised operator, route and fuel-use methodologies rather than continuously measuring emissions from every aircraft while within UK airspace. The CAA also assess and reports on the environmental performance of the UK aviation sector through its periodic Aviation Environmental Review.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 23724
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Aviation Carbon emissions
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Aviation: Carbon Emissions

Secondary information

Librarians' tools