US-EU WAR BREWING OVER AVIATION EMISSIONS CAPS

Commercial aviation creates 3% of global emissions, having doubled in the last 10 years.

The U.S. is against this EU effort to cap such emissions. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is also against it. Charging for the emissions generated by airlines would surely make travel more expensive and curtail tourism.

Which, of course, is the point. Airline tickets must eventually include the cost of the emissions generated by flight. Like any other industry that generates emissions, the airlines would have allocated caps. Ticket prices would include a small stipend toward the purchase of permits that pay for projects that reduce emissions in an amount equal to those created by air travel. This encourages the development of New Energy. And more efficient airplanes. If people choose not to pay the higher ticket prices, there would be fewer flights and therefore less climate change-causing emissions.

Environmental groups do not think the EU caps on aviation are strong enough.

For more information: Emissions From Aviation (from the UNFCCC)

Air travel rises with GDP. As EU membership spreads economic growth, there will be more air travel. (click to enlarge)

EU nations: All airlines flying to Europe should trade carbon permits from 2012
January 1, 2008 (AP via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
and
EU ministers: airlines in emissions trade from 2012
Marcin Grajewski with James Jukwey, 20 December 2007 (Reuters)

WHO
EU ministers, the EU Parliament, International Air Transport Association (IATA) (director-general Giovanni Bisignani)

WHAT
Airlines will be brought into the EU cap-and-trade system although ministers and the Parliament are haggling over when air flights into and out of European Union nations will incur extra charges for the emissions the planes produce.

Clearly the EU must move to curb these emissions. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- Parliament had set the deadline for capping air flight emissions in and out of EU nations for 2011 but ministers recommend it be moved to 2012.
- A proposal to give non-EU airlines an extra year has been rejected.

WHERE
- 27 nations make up the European Union.
- Portugal currenly holds the EU’s rotating Presidency.

WHY
- One aspect of the debate hinges on the EU Parliament’s proposal to establish emissions caps based on the 2004 through 2006 period. The airlines point out that air travel will have expanded since that period by 2011 or 2012 and such out-of-date caps would drive costs to an estimated at $3 billion to $7 billion, so high it would impinge on travel.
- When the airlines become part of the cap-and-trade system, they will be given some emissions permits and others will be auctioned. Theministers recommend auctioning 10% of the 2004-2006 emissions levels permits. The Parliament recommends auctioning 25%.

- Military and public service flights would be excluded.
- 3% of the 2004-2006 emissions levels permits would be set aside for new players.

Just as clearly, EU actions will affect non-EU travelers. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Portuguese Environment Minister Francisco Nunes Correia: "Our decision is of utmost importance in our fight against climate changes…"
- British Environment Minister Hilary Benn: "This is a bold step by Europe ..., which shows the EU leading in the fight against dangerous climate change…"
- Delia Villagrasa, senior adviser, World Wildlife Fund: "This is a Christmas gift to the aviation industry which should be required to do its fair share in tackling climate change…"