European Parliament opts for realistic approach on aviation ETS

At midday today, the Plenary of the European Parliament (EP) decided on the way forward on the scope of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for aviation:  only flights operated within the European Economic Area will be covered in the calendar years 2013 up to and including 2016. Following the 2016 Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Commission shall consider all options and may put forward a further proposal to revise the aviation ETS. The Plenary thereby overturned the Environment Committee’s vote of two weeks ago. Now, the only remaining formality is the endorsement of the EP’s position by the Council later this month.

“Although AEA welcomes that the EP has taken a realistic approach which provides clarity for airlines for the next three years, we would have preferred legal certainty and planning stability until 2020 when the global market-based mechanism is due to come into force” says Athar Husain Khan, AEA’s CEO. “The new scope puts an additional burden on airlines primarily serving intra-European routes but by amending the aviation ETS, the EP has paved the way for further progress at international level.  AEA fully supports the ICAO process as it is the only way to ensure a global solution for a global problem.”