Aviation and the EU ETS: key questions answered Discover how extending the EU Emissions Trading System to international flights could reduce aviation emissions, generate billions for climate action and boost EU competitiveness and leadership.

Want more detail? Check out:
Our Aviation and EU ETS FAQ: opportunitygreen.org/aviation/gui...

SASHA Coalition's CORSIA briefing: www.sashacoalition.org/how-is-corsi...

✈️€26 billion. That’s what the EU has lost because international flights aren't charged for their pollution. Now the EU must decide whether to close that gap.

We break down what the ETS is, why international aviation has been left out and what's at stake.

Watch our ETS 101 video below👇

#ClimateSky

Global shipping: mega profits and micro taxes 2026 analysis shows the world’s 10 biggest public shipping companies make $42.9bn in 2024 – but pay barely half the average tax rate.

These figures make clear that the sector has both the means and the responsibility to contribute more.

📖 Read the full report: opportunitygreen.org/shipping/reports/shippin...

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If they had paid standard taxes, the extra $4.3bn could have funded daily food aid for 28 million people.

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They paid just $5bn in taxes – an effective tax rate of 11.91%. That’s half the global corporate average.

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🚢 Mega profits, micro taxes: is global shipping paying its fair share? 

From 2019–2023, the world’s largest shipping companies made $300bn in profits. Our latest update shows that in 2024 alone, they made $42.9bn – nearly double the previous year.

So where did all that money go? 🤔🧵

#ClimateSky

✈️ A short flight in Europe? You pay for the emissions.

A long-haul flight to New York or Dubai? You don’t.

That’s the gap left by the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS).

1.1bn tonnes of CO₂ unpriced. €26bn missed.

The EU is now deciding whether to fix it.

Our FAQ explains what's at stake👇

How airlines can be competitive and reach climate goals Extending the EU ETS to international flights could boost Europe’s long-term competitiveness, generate billions for climate action, and accelerate truly sustainable aviation – without creating new com...

✈️ Can airlines be competitive and meet climate goals?

YES. By extending the EU ETS to international flights – a polluter pays approach that funds climate action.

Since 2012, it could have raised €26 bn. With the ETS under revision this year, there’s a real opportunity.

Read more 👇

#ClimateSky

This week we stood before the Court of Justice of the EU for our Taxonomy case.

The Commission labels LNG ships and fossil-fuel planes as “sustainable.” We asked the Court to ensure aviation and shipping criteria are truly green.

🎥 Watch our team’s reactions from the hearing.

#ClimateSky

We’re facing the European Commission in Court over the EU Taxonomy On 24 February 2026, we will face the European Commission before the General Court of the EU over its decision to label fossil fuel-powered planes and ships as sustainable under the EU Taxonomy. Read ...

This case is brought by Dryade, @fossielvrijnl.bsky.social and Protect Our Winters Austria, supported by legal experts at Opportunity Green and CLAW – and backed by more than 44,000 citizens.

Read our FAQ here: opportunitygreen.org/climate-law/...

⚖️🇪🇺 Tomorrow, we face the European Commission in court.

The issue? The Commission’s decision to label fossil fuel-powered planes and ships as “sustainable investments” under the EU Taxonomy.


Read why this matters 👇

#ClimateSky #GreenSky #EU

Onze Europese klimaatzaak over greenwashing begint Vliegtuigen en (cruise)schepen een duurzame investering? Natuurlijk niet! Maar de Europese Commissie vindt van wel. Op 24 februari start eindelijk onze rechtszaak hierover bij het Europees Hof van Jus...

⌛️ One week left! Can the EU label airplanes and cruise ships as green? On 24 February, our climate case starts at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

Learn more about our climate case in this blog 👇

Together with CLAW Protect our winters, @opportunitygreen.org and Dryade

Banks risk burning forests & fossil fuels for “green” steel Read our new report here New analysis from BankTrack reveals that banks are at risk of delaying the global steel transition by allowing ‘green’ finance to flow to environmentally…

New report: Financing False Solutions in Steel Decarbonisation

Account for 11% of global CO2 emissions, the steel sector must transition, but not all steel decarbonisation solutions are equal.

www.banktrack.org/article/bank...

📨 Dear EU Commission,

When the game isn’t going in our favour, it’s tempting to change the rules – but doing so risks losing the trust of the other players.

Adapting Better Regulation to suit a big industry agenda is no different.

🎲 Today 50+ CSOs call for fair play:
eeb.org/en/library/j...

Greenwashing complaint against SGN's home heating trials — Opportunity Green Opportunity Gren files a greenwashing complaint to the Competition and Markets Authority against Scottish Gas Networks for home heating trial that risks misleading consumers.

📣 Breaking! Opportunity Green files greenwashing complaint against Scottish Gas Networks

In our submission to the CMA, we argue that many of SGN's claims:
ℹ️ Are factually incorrect.
💹 Ignore scientific evidence
🏠 Put homeowners at risk

Read more 👇

www.opportunitygreen.org/publication-...

📣 Opportunity Green is hiring a Digital and SEO Manager!

If you have a real passion for using your digital skills and SEO knowledge to tackle climate change, this role is your chance to do exactly that.

Find out more and apply: www.opportunitygreen.org/vacancies-di...

#digitaljobs

ShareAction | Harness the power of investment We work across borders and systems to transform the financial sector and harness its potential to be a force for good.

“Investors need to recognise the potential financial and reputational liabilities – even before regulatory breaches occur – and take action as recommended in this briefing.”

Opportunity Green is proud to have contributed to this briefing.

Read:

“The litigation risk posed to big polluters is significant and foreseeable. Companies could face claims for personal injury, private nuisance, negligence and human rights-based challenges,” says our Legal Manager, Matilda Graham.

Today, @shareaction.bsky.social launches a new investor briefing highlighting how air pollution remains a critical blind spot in investment decision-making – and how this is translating into material financial exposure as regulation tightens, litigation grows and operational disruption increases👇

Why UK decarbonisation plans must include data centres — Opportunity Green Data centre energy demand is surging in the UK. Our submission urges government to include data centres in carbon budgets to protect net zero goals.

Together with @foxglovelegal.bsky.social and @globalactionplan.bsky.social, OG has submitted evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee calling for data centre energy demand to be properly accounted for within the UK’s decarbonisation plans, alongside other recommendations.

Read 👇

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Despite this, the UK government is actively encouraging data centre expansion and is not yet accounting for their energy use or emissions in the last carbon budget set by the Committee on Climate Change.



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3️⃣ Because data centres (particularly those supporting AI) require high, continuous power and are expanding at speed, this rapidly growing demand is mainly being met by fossil fuels.



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1️⃣ The UK already has the third highest number of data centres in the world, behind only the US and Germany – with around 100 more currently in planning.


2️⃣ If built and operated, proposed developments could add electricity demand equivalent to almost the entire country of Denmark.



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⚡🏭 The UK government can’t keep ignoring the environmental impact of data centres.

Data centre energy demand is rapidly rising, putting growing pressure on electricity grids and undermining the UK’s decarbonisation plans.

Here’s why this matters 👇
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#ClimateSky #GreenSky

Will Ireland step up and become the EU's climate President? — Opportunity Green Ireland has announced it will only achieve half its target of a 51% emissions reduction by 2030. As it heads towards its EU Presidency, Ireland has an opportunity to step up as the climate president o...

Ireland is missing its climate targets – just as it prepares to take over the EU Presidency. 🇮🇪

With record tax revenues and soaring emissions from data centres & aviation, can Ireland step up as Europe’s Climate President?

3 concrete actions in our blog 👇
www.opportunitygreen.org/blog/irish-g...

Our top Positive Climate Stories of 2025 — Opportunity Green Read 12 positive climate stories that made us feel hopeful in 2025.

🌱 Trying to fight off the January blues? We’ve got something to lift your spirits!

Here are 12 positive climate stories from 2025 that made us feel hopeful about the future.

📖 Read:

Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money. These are 8 of the most high-impact, cost-effective, evidence-based organizations. You may not have heard of them.

Huge thanks to @givinggreen.earth for naming us a top climate nonprofit for the third year running! Proud to be featured amongst other brilliant organisations, such as @cleanaircatf.bsky.social and @gfi.org, among others.

Read more: www.vox.com/future-perfe...

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⛽ The SASHA Coalition grew to 18 members, accelerating green hydrogen in shipping and aviation, with strategic expansion in Brussels and Dublin.

📚 Expanded our work across shipping, aviation, steel, agriculture, finance, trucks and data centres.

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🇪🇺 Continued our EU Taxonomy legal challenge, with a court date set for early next year, contesting flawed sustainable finance rules that label polluting planes and ships as “green”.

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🇺🇳 Alongside @maketheshift.bsky.social, we contributed to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognising for the first time in its UK review that states must decarbonise housing to comply with international human rights law.

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