Aviation and the environment

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency addresses the adverse environmental effects caused by air traffic through various measures, both domestically and globally, as well as on the EU level. The Finnish Transport Safety Agency pays particular attention to ensure that all operators in the field of aviation consider the impact of climate change in their aviation safety systems. In the Climate Policy Programme of the administrative sector of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, The Finnish Transport Safety Agency has been tasked with the following objectives concerning aviation and the environment:

• To participate as observer in the work of the European support groups of the environmental and climate change expert groups of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to curb climate change due to air traffic. To participate as observer in the projects of the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) and the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative and to provide expert assistance as needed.
• To monitor that fuel consumption and flight time optimisation does not jeopardise aviation safety. To participate as observer and member in the Single European Sky (SES) and the SESAR initiatives of the European Union which strive to reduce CO2 emissions by 9 – 12 % in the run-up to 2020 through reorganisation of airspace.
• To observe in an active manner the testing and increased use of bio-fuels globally and to participate as needed in national collaboration projects to promote the use of bio-fuels.
• To act as the designated authority responsible for the national implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS): The Finnish Transport Safety Agency is responsible for the allocation of the emission allowances for aviation (EUAA) granted free of charge and for the implementation of the underlying reference benchmark The Finnish Transport Safety Agency is also responsible for the monitoring and reporting function required under the ETS and for the penalties imposable on airlines for failure to discharge the duties and obligations under the Emissions Trading Act.

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency has also a number of responsibilities concerning the management of aircraft noise  in Finland.

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency collaborates closely with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, airlines and the aerodrome operator Finavia.