EU Climate Chief Hoekstra Goes to Battle with Airlines

Forex - The efforts of Wopke Hoekstra, the EU climate chief, to impose higher taxes on airlines are poised to become one of the defining political battles of Ursula von der Leyen's second term as European Commission President.

European Union countries, fearful that the plans led by IATA President Willie Walsh will undermine airlines and tourism industries, have reacted sharply to Hoekstra's tax proposal. Walsh described the tax plans as "nonsense," stating, "The EU's plans to increase green taxes on airlines are complete nonsense."

Hoekstra not only serves as the EU's climate commissioner but also holds a lesser-known second role responsible for taxation. He aims to increase taxes paid by airlines as part of the EU's Green Deal initiative, which seeks to reduce emissions from transportation by 90% by 2050.

Airplanes account for approximately 4% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions and 13.9% of all transportation emissions. Now, Hoekstra is taking a hard look at the favorable tax agreements that airlines have enjoyed, aiming to ensure they bear a greater share of the true environmental costs of flights.

Hoekstra stated, "I believe it is fair that the principle of 'the polluter pays' lies at the heart of many of our policies. And looking at aviation, I see it as a step we can take."