With airlines struggling to maintain their businesses in an era of skyrocketing fuel prices, the aviation industry has attacked European plans to include its carbon pollution in the emissions trading scheme. The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Giovanni Bisignani, in a speech on Wednesday (16 July) to an international conference on sustainable aviation in the UK said: "The airline industry is in crisis. With a fuel bill of US$190 billion [€120 billion] - one third of its costs - saving fuel is a matter of survival. Still Europe is fixated on punitive measures supposedly designed to reduce emissions. From January 2012, all flights taking off from Europe or landing there will be included in the ETS "There is a rush to implement taxes, taxes and more taxes. They all have an environment label, but do nothing to reduce emissions," he continued. Last week, MEPs voted overwhelmingly (640 to 30) for aviation to be included in the ETS from 2012. The plan, including both EU and non-EU airlines, must yet be ratified by the member states, who agreed to the idea in June. "Taxes don't reduce emissions. Only better operations and technology can do that," said Mr Bisignani, lashing out at UK and Dutch passenger duties and associated taxes.
With airlines struggling to maintain their businesses in an era of skyrocketing fuel prices, the aviation industry has attacked European plans to include its carbon pollution in the emissions trading scheme.
The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Giovanni Bisignani, in a speech on Wednesday (16 July) to an international conference on sustainable aviation in the UK said: "The airline industry is in crisis. With a fuel bill of US$190 billion [€120 billion] - one third of its costs - saving fuel is a matter of survival. Still Europe is fixated on punitive measures supposedly designed to reduce emissions.
From January 2012, all flights taking off from Europe or landing there will be included in the ETS
"There is a rush to implement taxes, taxes and more taxes. They all have an environment label, but do nothing to reduce emissions," he continued.
Last week, MEPs voted overwhelmingly (640 to 30) for aviation to be included in the ETS from 2012. The plan, including both EU and non-EU airlines, must yet be ratified by the member states, who agreed to the idea in June.
"Taxes don't reduce emissions. Only better operations and technology can do that," said Mr Bisignani, lashing out at UK and Dutch passenger duties and associated taxes.
No, no, no and no. keep to the Fen Causeway
"Taxes don't reduce emissions.
Inspiring that this guy didn't threaten to move the industry to the Ukraine at least. But he can go sit with the cement guy anyway and they can commiserate that the days of free exploitation of the air we breathe, the views and water we need, are not to be spoilt at the convenience of commerce.
...they sound like a bunch of heroin pushers; hey, we provide jobs and are just fulfilling a demand... Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
Don´t try to learn proper English from the media. Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.
