Est. 2min 14-11-2007 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) plane_ist_Mark_Strevens.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Airlines must reduce CO2 emissions by 10% when they join the EU’s carbon cap-and-trade scheme in 2011, the European Parliament said in a vote, an outcome which disappointed both airlines and environmentalists. Members of Parliament voted, on 13 November, in favour of slightly toughening up a Commission plan to include the aviation sector in the EU’s emission trading scheme, requesting the following changes: All airlines flying to and from EU territory should join the scheme in 2011. MEPs thereby rejected the Commission’s proposal that international flights should be given an extra year and ignored threats from third countries, including the US, that they would instigate legal action if the EU attempts to unilaterally force them to comply with the scheme; airlines would be required to reduce emissions by 10% compared to average 2004-2006 levels, rather than just having to maintain those levels, as the Commission had initially proposed; 25% of the pollution permits would be auctioned out to airlines, rather than having at least 90% distributed to operators for free, as the Commission had originally suggested. Revenues from the sales would be used to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, fund relevant research and “lower taxes and charges on climate-friendly transport such as rail and bus”; the cost of all CO2 permits bought by airlines would be multiplied by two unless the Commission develops legislation to address additional climate impacts caused by Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions from aircraft; an “efficiency clause” states that the aviation sector can only buy permits from other sectors if it first improves its own fuel efficiency, and; military flights and planes weighing less than 20,000kg, such as business jets, would be excluded. Read more with Euractiv Parliament set to vote for tighter aircraft emission limits MEPs are likely to toughen up a Commission proposal on including aviation in the EU's carbon cap-and-trade scheme, according to rapporteur Peter Liese. While environmentalists say the plans remain too weak to tackle the urgency of climate change, airlines claim stronger proposals could "completely kill the competitiveness of the industry". Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters PositionsThe European Parliament report points out that an 87% cumulative growth in CO2 emissions from the airline sector since 1990 is "in stark contrast to the EU's overall 8% greenhouse gas reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol, but decided against demanding stronger cuts, recognising it was "difficult for aircraft operators to switch to alternative (renewable) energy sources". Parliament rapporteur Peter Liese (EPP-ED) said the increased auctioning was "important in order to give new entrants a chance and minimise so-called windfall profits". Socialist spokesperson Matthias Groote lamented the fact that the scheme would not be implemented by 2010 and that business jets would be excluded from it, saying: "We have lost the chance to have a level playing field for all airlines." UK Green and EP draftswoman on aviation and climate change Caroline Lucas welcomed the strengthening of what she said was "a weak and timid proposal from the Commission", but said the vote "falls short of what is needed to achieve the necessary reductions in climate-damaging emissions from airlines and to demonstrate real global leadership on climate change". She said that the 90% cap and 25% auctioning was "simply too generous", but added: "Thankfully, MEPs supported the proposed 'multiplier' [...] Given the non-CO2 climate impact of airlines can be 2-4 times greater, it is crucial that this is also addressed." The Association of European Airlines (AEA), however, described the outcome of the vote as "a massive blow to industry and passengers" but a "barely measurable step for the environment". It lamented the fact that "political compromises…not based on any kind of impact assessment" had taken the upper hand over "the reality of the environmental challenge and aviation's real contribution to the issue". AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus pointed out that, while European airlines account for just 0.5% of global man-made CO2 emissions, "Parliament has designed a scheme which will have a devastating effect, not only on European carriers' financial stability, but also on economic growth and tourism, especially in the new EU accession countries – and will result in a barely measurable reduction in CO2 emissions globally." Sylviane Lust, Director General of the International Air Carrier Association (IACA) agreed that "Parliament's punitive design of the ETS scheme would damage the aviation sector beyond repair". While she said the IACA supports the ETS "in principle", she said: "The elements of the scheme as voted today, and topped by a multiplier, would amount to approximately €11bn per year in additional costs for airlines which they are unlikely to be able to absorb." The International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticised the EU's "hypocrisy", pointing to the 12 million tonnes of CO2 that could be saved with annually with an effective Single European Sky. Director General Giovanni Bisignani commented: "Instead of making that a reality, Europe is single-mindedly pursuing a political agenda of emissions trading that does nothing to improve environmental performance." He insisted: "With fuel making up 28% of operating costs, airlines have a US$132 billion economic incentive to reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions. We are 2% of global CO2 emissions and we have a clear strategy to address this [...] These aren't just words: with practical measures like route shortening we saved up to 15 million tonnes of CO2 in 2006 alone. What have Europe's politicians contributed to this achievement? The answer is absolutely nothing. And today's vote continues the tradition of hot air and no action," he added. He further criticised "Europe's go-it-alone approach", labelling it "counterproductive", "a clear breach of the Chicago Convention" which would have "at best, limited impact on the environment". "The resulting trade and legal battles will distract governments from making real progress," he said. Delia Villagrasa, Senior Advisor at WWF, said the European Parliament had "missed the opportunity to really curb the emissions of the fastest growing sector in Europe in terms of greenhouse gases", adding that it was "crucial" that the EU's environment ministers "do not water down the text further". Friends of the Earth Europe agreed that the plans to include aviation in the ETS remained "inadequate" and would fail to "significantly cut aviation's impact on climate change". Aviation campaigner Richard Dyer said: "Instead of getting tough on aviation, MEPs have only voted for modest improvements to Commission plans to make aviation part of the ETS…It's time our politicians showed real leadership on global warming." He insisted that other measures should be taken by national governments, such as freezing airport expansion plans, improving high-speed rail services and doing more to make the cost of flying reflect the damage that it causes to our environment. According to green NGO Transport & Environment, Parliament's plan would still keep aviation emissions around 70% higher than their 1990 levels, "in contrast to an earlier EU commitment to cut overall greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30% by 2020 that was supported by all political groups in the Parliament". T&E's João Vieira warned that "MEPs are in danger of losing credibility on climate change" after having "bowed to industry pressure". Nevertheless, the federation welcomed the recognition that further measures are needed to deal with the non-CO2 impact of aviation. "The parliament has wisely left the door open on future measures," stated the group, stressing that "the lack of a kerosene tax alone equates to a €35 billion subsidy to the industry every year and has unfairly boosted the growth of the sector". BackgroundIn an effort to tackle aviation's small but fast-growing contribution to climate change, the Commission issued a legislative proposal in December 2006 to include the sector in the EU's emission trading scheme (EU-ETS). The proposal involves imposing a cap on CO2 emissions for all planes arriving or departing from EU airports, while allowing airlines to buy and sell 'pollution credits' on the EU 'carbon market'. Timeline 13 Nov. 2007: First reading vote in Parliament plenary. 20 Dec. 2007: Council of Environment Ministers due to vote on the proposal. 1 Jan. 2011: Commission target date for aviation sector to start trading CO2. Further ReadingParliament Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE):Aviation in Emissions Trading Scheme(13 November 2007) European ParliamentClear skies ahead: MEPs vote to curb airline emissions(13 November 2007) [FR] [FR] [DE] EPP-ED:European Parliament backs aviation emissions trading scheme. Peter Liese MEP(13 November 2007) [DE] EPP-ED:Un traitement particulier pour le transport aérien des RUP dans le dossier des quotas d'émission de CO2. Margie Sudre, MdPE [FR](13 November 2007) Socialist Group:Socialist Group regrets non inclusion of all flights in ETS.(13 November 2007) Greens-EFA:EP takes first step towards bringing climate-damaging emissions from airlines in check(13 November 2007) [FR] [FR] [DE] Business & Industry Association of European Airlines (AEA):European Parliament's vote on Emissions Trading Scheme: a massive blow to industry and passengers, a barely measurable step for the environment(13 November 2007) International Air Carrier Association (IACA):The Parliament's design of ETS for aviation would damage the aviation sector beyond repair(13 November 2007) International Air Transport Association (IATA):European Parliament Lost in the Woods On Emissions Trading(13 November 2007) NGOs and Think-Tanks Transport & Environment:European Parliament strengthens aviation emissions plan(13 November 2007) WWF:EU Parliament shaky on climate change(13 November 2007) Friends of the Earth Europe:Weak EU Emissions Trading Scheme threatens climate targets(13 November 2007)
