Stricter Rules to Cut Plane Noise and Pollution

EU position on ICAO environmental‑protection amendments (237th ICAO Council session, 23 Mar‑2 Apr 2026)

• What is being decided?
  The EU will take a position on three amendments (3, 12, 15) to Annex 16 of the Chicago Convention, which covers environmental protection for aircraft. Annex 16 has four volumes; volumes I–III are relevant here:

• Volume I – aircraft noise
• Volume II – engine emissions
• Volume III – CO₂ emissions

• Key changes in the amendments

• Volume I – new definitions, a new noise standard for supersonic aircraft (Chapter 15) and for subsonic aircraft (Chapter 16).
• Volume II – clearer language, new terms “parent engine” and “no‑emissions‑change criteria”, updated symbols, three new methods for measuring non‑volatile particulate matter (nvPM), a new reporting point for 57.5 % of rated thrust, and alignment with SAE standards.
• Volume III – a stricter CO₂ standard for subsonic aircraft (10 %/3 % tighter limits for large/small types, effective 31 Dec 2031 for new types and 1 Jan 2035 for in‑production types) and clearer compliance methods.
  All amendments are expected to become effective on 1 Jan 2027.

• Why the EU cares
  The EU has exclusive external competence in this area (Article 3(2) TFEU). The amendments will affect EU rules such as Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (aviation safety) and Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 (airworthiness and environmental certification).

• EU’s position

1. Support the amendments in full.
2. If the ICAO Council adopts them without major changes, the EU will not register any disapproval and will comply with the new standards.
3. If EU law later differs from the adopted standards, the EU will notify ICAO of the differences.
4. The Commission will prepare a document at least two months before the ICAO deadline, outlining any differences, which Member States will submit jointly.

• Legal basis

• Article 218(9) TFEU – positions in bodies set up by agreement (ICAO).
• Article 100(2) TFEU – transport policy.
• Articles 192(1) and 191 TFEU – environmental protection and climate action.

• Decision summary

• Article 1 – EU position: support amendments 3, 12, 15; no disapproval if adopted unchanged; notify compliance; notify differences if any.
• Article 2 – Position expressed by EU Member States in the ICAO Council jointly.
• Article 3 – Decision addressed to Member States.

• Document details

• Proposal number: COM(2026) 66 final (2026/0042 (NLE)).
• Date: 12 Feb 2026, Brussels.

This simplified summary keeps all key numbers and data while explaining the EU’s stance on the ICAO environmental‑protection amendments.