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Partnership Proposal |
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The aviation sector is to be brought into the European carbon
trading market from 2012, following an agreement reached on 26 June
by the EU Council and the European Parliament. The agreement was
formally approved by the Council and the EP at its plenary session
on 9 July.
Under the deal, emissions trading will apply to all flights
departing from or landing in the EU, including intercontinental
flights, from 2012. The provision covers airlines from non-EU
countries operating flights to and from EU territory. The directive
obliges the EU to negotiate an international agreement to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by the aviation sector, with bilateral
agreements particularly with the US being a possible first step.
The reduction target will be calculated on the basis of average
annual emissions between 2004 and 2006. In 2012 (first period),
airlines will have to cut emissions by 3 per cent, and from 2013 by
5 per cent. The targets for the following years will be determined
under the general revision of the ETS.
The directive also establishes that 85 per cent of quotas will be
allocated freely and the remaining 15% will be auctioned. The income
raised from auctions is to be reinvested in climate change
mitigation, research on clean aircraft, anti-deforestation measures
in the developing world and low-emission transport.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary responded to the agreement with fury,
slamming the decision as an "extraordinary" move which "won't have
any effect at all on the environment, but will further damage
European airlines at a time when oil is already US$140 a barrel".
Asked how much the measures would cost Ryanair, an airline spokesman
said the company has "not yet studied the details" of the proposals
as, "we have far more pressing issues to deal with, such as oil".
The US, meanwhile, is threatening a legal challenge to the EU's
right to impose a carbon trading system on American airlines flying
in Europe.
Reported by Europolitics Energy and the Irish Independent
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