AIRLINES SHOULD JOIN POLLUTION-REDUCING SCHEME IN 2010, SAY MEPS
10.8.07 - Leído 78 veces. Enviar esta notaHonor Mahony
Airlines coming to, from and flying within the European Union should be included in Europe’s controversial pollution reducing scheme by 2010, MEPs have suggested
BRUSSELS, Belgium; October 8, 2007.- The European Commission had originally proposed a staggered approach under which inter-EU flights would be included in the scheme from 2011 and international flights from 2012.
In a vote on Friday, MEPs in the environment committee agreed that the dates should be combined and the overall deadline for airlines entering the bloc’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) brought forward.
The ETS is the bloc’s flagship project for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which lead to global warming.
It sets limits on the amount of carbon dioxide that industries can emit and allows companies to buy or sell pollution allowances depending on their need.
Although they belong to the fastest growing polluting sector, airlines are not included in the scheme.
The committee suggested that 50 percent of the CO2 allowances that airlines need for the scheme be auctioned or sold to them. The commission had set no threshold for auctioning off the credits while the airlines themselves are against the idea.
The original commission proposal suggested that governments flights should not be included in the scheme but MEPs deleted this section, arguing that governments should be setting an example.
The report, agreed by 50 votes in favour, none against and one abstention, is expected to come before plenary in November.
Green groups have said it does not go far enough.
“While it’s somewhat reassuring that MEPs have strengthened the Commission’s proposal, they haven’t gone far enough in tackling rising emissions from the sector,” said João Vieira of the Transport & Environment green group.
“A year ago MEPs were talking big on tackling aviation emissions, but today they have taken a step back from that commitment. It seems that it’s one rule for the most polluting form of transport on the planet, and another for everyone else,” he added.
However, for the US, which is strongly against the scheme, the proposals are likely to be too much.
Earlier this year, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transport John Byerly criticised the scheme as both “illegal” and “unworkable.”
“We have some time, my understanding is that it will take at least a year to 18 months to two years for the co-decision process within Europe to reach a result. We will use that time to try and persuade colleagues in Europe that this is not a path to follow,” said Mr Byerly in January.
(EUobserver)
