Brussels to force EU airlines to join carbon emissions scheme
Seen in today’s Independent. Brussels to force EU airlines to join carbon emissions scheme
Controversial moves to add airlines to the EU’s emissions trading scheme will be approved by the European Commission today in a move designed to force the aviation sector and its customers to pay more for the pollution that is generated.
from the article: ‘The plan, put forward by the EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas, follows months of debate over how best to make the airline industry more sensitive to mounting environmental concerns about carbon dioxide emissions.
‘Under the Dimas plan, which is expected to be rubber-stamped by the Commission, an emissions-trading scheme would be used instead of alternative ideas being canvassed, including the introduction of fuel tax or a levy on individual tickets.‘
The article continues to add, ‘The Commission has yet to finalise the details but plans to deal directly with airlines rather than make them part of the national schemes administered by EU member states. One official said: “We found that emissions trading was the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly scheme and it is supported by industry.” The UK, which holds the EU presidency, backs the scheme and is likely to allocate time for member states to discuss it from its work schedule.
The measure is also expected to win the backing of British Airways which, alone among the country’s operators, is part of the UK’s emissions-trading scheme.
‘A BA spokesman said: “We believe that emissions trading is the most effective way of limiting CO2 emissions and reducing global warming, and hope aviation will be included in the EU trading scheme from 2008. Only emissions-trading schemes provide a financial incentive for companies to improve their environmental performance.”
Note that this will apply to all flights in and out of the EU, this forcing non-Kyoto countries such as Australia and the USA to participate regardless of their official attitude to global warming and climate change.
