EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - MEPs on Tuesday (8 July) approved a plan to include airlines into a pollution-reducing Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2012 in a bid to cut the greenhouse gases emitted by the fast-growing sector. The move was approved by 640 votes in favour and 30 against and means that airlines will have to cut their CO2 emissions by 3 percent in 2012, and by 5 percent from 2013 onwards. The aviation deal "creates the worst of all worlds," according to the International Air Carrier Association Additionally, they will have to pay for permits covering 15 percent of their allowances to emit CO2 - the remaining 85 percent will be allocated for free. Following an agreement with EU governments last month, all steps have now been completed for the proposal to be transformed into law and it is to apply to all companies flying in and out of the EU, including non-European ones. "This can be considered a revolution because until now we have not yet included products from third countries," said the MEP in charge of the dossier, German Christian Democrat Peter Liese.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - MEPs on Tuesday (8 July) approved a plan to include airlines into a pollution-reducing Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2012 in a bid to cut the greenhouse gases emitted by the fast-growing sector.
The move was approved by 640 votes in favour and 30 against and means that airlines will have to cut their CO2 emissions by 3 percent in 2012, and by 5 percent from 2013 onwards.
The aviation deal "creates the worst of all worlds," according to the International Air Carrier Association
Additionally, they will have to pay for permits covering 15 percent of their allowances to emit CO2 - the remaining 85 percent will be allocated for free.
Following an agreement with EU governments last month, all steps have now been completed for the proposal to be transformed into law and it is to apply to all companies flying in and out of the EU, including non-European ones.
"This can be considered a revolution because until now we have not yet included products from third countries," said the MEP in charge of the dossier, German Christian Democrat Peter Liese.
European ETS Vote: The Wrong Answer Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) severely criticised today's European Parliament vote to bring aviation into the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). "It's absolutely the wrong answer to the very serious issue of environment," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO. "We support emissions trading, but not this decision. Europe has taken the wrong approach, with the wrong conditions at the wrong time."
Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) severely criticised today's European Parliament vote to bring aviation into the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
"It's absolutely the wrong answer to the very serious issue of environment," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO. "We support emissions trading, but not this decision. Europe has taken the wrong approach, with the wrong conditions at the wrong time."
AEA - Airlines Count the Cost of Parliament Vote on Emissions Trading
"This legislative package destroys the industry's ability to invest, gives no incentive to Europe's governments to commit to airspace modernization and invites conflict rather than collaboration with international partners. We looked for European leadership and what we have got is political opportunism, which is hardly the template for a global approach to the challenge".
We looked for European leadership and what we have got is political opportunism, which is hardly the template for a global approach to the challenge".
Question to you: does this legislation also affect non-EU carriers landing in Europe? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
MEPs adopted legislation on including aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), all flights starting and/or landing in Europe (including intercontinental flights) to be included in the ETS from 1 January 2012.
And that's exactly the point where IATA is threatening the whole thing:
European ETS Vote: The Wrong Answer
The Wrong Approach: Europe's unilateral and extra-territorial approach will apply ETS to all aircraft flying to or from Europe. Without international agreement this will only spark international legal battles. "What right does Europe have to impose ETS charges on, for example, an Australian carrier flying from Asia to Europe for emissions over the Middle East? Article 1 of the Chicago Convention prohibits this. And it goes against Article 2 of the Kyoto Protocol. Fuelling legal battles and trade wars is no way to help the environment. Already over 130 states have vowed to oppose it.
Without international agreement this will only spark international legal battles. "What right does Europe have to impose ETS charges on, for example, an Australian carrier flying from Asia to Europe for emissions over the Middle East? Article 1 of the Chicago Convention prohibits this. And it goes against Article 2 of the Kyoto Protocol.
Fuelling legal battles and trade wars is no way to help the environment. Already over 130 states have vowed to oppose it.
