(28/09/05) Emissies luchtvaart: Commissie verspilt kostbare tijd

• 2005-09-28

Timetable is a gift to increasingly polluting sector:
Commission does too little too late on aviation emissions

After timetabling delays the European Commission yesterday adopted a communication stating its intention to include the aviation sector in the EU emissions trading scheme through a legislative proposal to be presented to the Parliament and the Council by the end of 2006.

Satu Hassi , Greens/EFA vice-chairperson of environment committee, said:

"This really is too little too late — why hasn't the Commission come out directly with a legislative proposal? The Parliament has been calling for measures to tackle aviation emissions for years — instead we get a communication which basically sets a timeframe of doing nothing until 2012. This must be seen as a great victory for the aviation industry!"

"Taking account of indirect warming effects, aviation emissions already account for up to one tenth of the EU's contribution towards global warming. Aviation emissions are growing fast and risk cancelling out much of the progress made by other sectors in cutting greenhouse gas emissions."

"Instead of waiting until 2012, I urge the Commission to opt for a separate pilot scheme for controlling aviation emissions for flights originating or landing within the EU for the period 2008-2012 to prepare the ground for global measures to reduce emissions from aviation and maritime transport."

***

Note: A 1999 report by the international scientific body IPCC states that total global warming impact of aviation (including warming related to NOx emissions and water vapour) combine on average to a climate impact of 2.7 times the impact of the CO2 emissions alone. From 1990 to 2003, the EU’s green house has emissions from international aviation increased by 73%, or 4.3% per year, and if the indirect effects are taken into account, emissions of the sector could cancel half of what the EU has committed to reduce by 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.

Info