EU ministers set emissions targets for ships, planes[fr][de] 

The Environment Council prepared the ground for next week's European summit, which is to settle the major outstanding issue of financing climate efforts in developing countries after finance ministers were unable to reach agreement earlier this week (EurActiv 21/10/09). 

The conclusions set as a basis for negotiations with international partners a 10% emissions reduction target for the aviation sector by 2020 compared to 2005. The maritime sector would have to cut emissions by 20%.

The reductions would be achieved by global market-based instruments that should be dealt with by the respective UN regulatory agencies, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Frustrated with inaction by the ICAOs, the EU moved to restrict emissions from the aviation sector last year by obliging all airlines flying to and from its airports to participate in the EU's emissions trading scheme (EurActiv 27/10/08). The EU's unilateral action was rebuked by the US, and the Union is therefore hoping to find a universal solution under the new treaty.

By linking the two significant polluting sectors to market mechanisms like emissions trading in a future global carbon market, the EU hopes to tap into funding for further emissions cuts.

The ministers said the EU would ask developed countries to adopt a collective long-term target to cut emissions by at least 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050. They also confirmed the EU's ambition to raise its 2020 emissions reduction target from 20% to 30%.

But environmentalists pointed out that compared to the overall EU emissions reduction target, aviation and shipping got off lightly.

"We question why aviation and shipping are still being given special treatment with targets for emissions more than one third above 1990 levels compared to 30% below for all other sectors," said Bill Hemmings of Transport & Environment.