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- At a meeting promoted by the Sustainability Commission of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, future legislation was analyzed, as well as the challenges and opportunities that transport and mobility companies will face.
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- Among the challenges highlighted during the session were the expansion of the EU ETS, the progressive elimination of free allowances in aviation, the full inclusion of the maritime sector in the system, and the arrival of EU ETS2 in 2027.
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- In this context, Spain and the United Kingdom are reinforcing their joint commitment to sustainable mobility, addressing challenges and opportunities in the land, sea and air sectors
Increasing regulatory and financial pressure will bring about structural changes for the transport sector under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). This was the key message of the conference organized by the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain at Indra's headquarters in Alcobendas, which brought together institutional and business experts to analyze the progress and challenges of land, sea, and air transport.
The conference analyzed in depth the strategic consequences of the expansion of the EU ETS, the progressive elimination of free rights in aviation, the full inclusion of the maritime sector in the system and the arrival of EU ETS2 in 2027, which will affect road transport and the real estate sector.
One of the most significant points was the phased elimination of the free allowances currently received by commercial aviation. This change will force airlines to internalize the carbon cost of their operations, which could lead to fare adjustments and increased pressure to adopt cleaner technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Celia Bedoya, head of sustainable aviation at the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable MobilityHe recalled that Spain has committed to achieving net-zero emissions in aviation by 2050 and reducing carbon emissions by 5% by 2030 through the use of SAF (Self-Fuel Actuators). Despite its potential—Spain could host between 30 and 40 production plants—the development of SAF still faces an uncertain regulatory framework and a lack of market incentives, leading some companies to opt for emissions offsetting as an alternative.
The maritime sector played a leading role at the meeting, particularly due to its strategic importance: around 90% of global trade depends on maritime transport, which, in turn, generates approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the full integration of shipping companies into the EU ETS represents a turning point, as these companies will have to report their emissions and purchase emission allowances for the first time on numerous international routes.
Matthew Ball, head of maritime environmental strategy at the UK Government's Department for TransportHe noted during the event that the country is making progress in progressively linking its own emissions trading scheme (UK ETS) with the European one.
In this context, companies with operations in Spain are taking decisive steps to invest in clean technologies and adopt low-carbon fuels. However, they have highlighted regulatory obstacles that hinder a more agile green transition, as well as a shortage of sufficient suppliers for key alternative fuels, such as green hydrogen and biomethane.
Another regulatory milestone addressed during the meeting was the arrival of EU ETS2, scheduled for 2027, which will include road transport and the real estate sector. This new system will impose carbon prices on fuel suppliers, with knock-on effects for logistics operators, transport fleets, and end users.
Added to this is the entry into force of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which will require companies to develop more detailed sustainability plans and reports. During the roundtable discussion dedicated to the onshore sector, experts agreed that more established companies will find new challenges to face and strengthen their existing plans, while those lagging behind will need to adapt and be more comprehensive in their sustainability policies.
Marta Díez, spokesperson for the Sustainability Commission of the Chamber, highlighted: “For companies that cannot yet decarbonize—either because the necessary technology is not available or because the investment is not currently feasible—it is crucial that they budget for higher compliance costs. Furthermore, they must establish a strategy to hedge their future exposure to the ETS.”. For its part, Isabel Perea, president of the British ChamberHe highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation in this context: “Sustainable mobility is not a future aspiration, but an ongoing transformation. Cooperation between both countries, along with leadership from the private sector, is essential to accelerate the decarbonization of transport.”
Alex Ellis, British Ambassador to Spain, Noted that "Reducing emissions in the transport sector will be one of the most difficult challenges in the fight against climate change, which is why we must act now. Meetings like today's strengthen the already strong ties between our countries in the transport sector, with examples like IAG, and highlight the business opportunities to decarbonize all sectors.
Taken together, these developments highlight an increasingly demanding regulatory environment, in which companies must anticipate changes with strategic decarbonization plans, especially in cases where a lack of funding or technological immaturity hinders an immediate transition. Preparing is no longer an option, but a necessity to maintain competitiveness and comply with new European climate requirements.
