Position Paper on Compensation

A Fair Approach to Environmental and Territorial Compensation

As the organization representing urban authorities hosting busy airport infrastructure, the Airport Regions Council recognizes the strategic and economic value of aviation. However, we also bear the environmental and social impacts, especially for citizens living closest to airport operations. This paper presents our position on fair, transparent, and community-centered compensation mechanisms for noise and air pollution impacts.

1. Communities near airports are disproportionately affected

Cities and regions near airports experience huge territorial impacts and persistent noise pollution and exposure to ultrafine particles and other pollutants. These effects are not caused solely by aviation activities (mainly the LTO cycle), but also by all infrastructure, especially transport and energy facilities, necessary to support the airport operations.

2. Noise will persist, even with Green Aviation Innovations

While the transition to low-emission and quieter aircraft is underway, we acknowledge that aviation noise cannot be eliminated. The impact on local communities will continue due to:

• Operational needs (e.g., take-offs/landings near residential zones)

• Slow fleet turnover

• Growth in flight volumes

• Growth in the number of airports

  
  

3. Current and future affected communities must be compensated

We call for comprehensive, long-term compensation mechanisms that reflect both present burdens and future impacts as aviation evolves. Compensation should not be a reactive tool but a planned, proactive policy measure.

4. Compensation should be designed bottom-up

Top-down compensation schemes often miss the real needs of affected residents. Cities insist on locally co-designed approaches that:

• Allow affected communities to set priorities

• Include municipalities in funding decisions

• Reflect social equity – compensating the most vulnerable first.

  
  

This requires decentralization and real trust in local governance structures.

5. Compensation is not a license to pollute

We strongly reject the notion that compensation legitimizes ongoing harm. These schemes must complement pollution reduction efforts, not replace them. We emphasize:

• Polluters must first reduce their impact

• Compensation must never undermine public and private obligations

• Transparency and accountability must guide all schemes.

  
  

In Summary:                               

ARC as representatives of cities that host airports, we urge national and EU authorities to develop and finance fair, participatory, and non-exploitative compensation mechanisms. These must be based on environmental justice principles and support the resilience of communities living under the flight path – now and in the decades ahead.