The EU Transport Council, meeting under the German Council Presidency in Brussels, today addressed the issue of emissions trading in aviation.
The Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, Wolfgang Tiefensee, emphasized: “Since international aviation is currently exempt from the agreements of the Kyoto Protocol on the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases, other ways of limiting greenhouse gas emissions from aviation have to be sought. One way of getting the aviation industry to play its part in tackling climate change is to include aviation in the European emissions trading scheme. The directive proposed by the Commission is thus a step in the right direction. At the next ICAO Assembly in the autumn, there is likely to be a heated debate on the issue of including third countries with or without their consent. That is why it is important that Europe goes into the negotiations at the ICAO Assembly with a clear and uniform line and that the Ministers of Transport agree on a common basic position here.”
“With our discussion, we Transport Ministers have moved one step closer to finding a uniform basic position for the discussion, which is expected to be heated, at the assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal this autumn. Including aviation in emissions trading is a good way of limiting greenhouse gas emissions from air transport and getting the aviation sector to play its part in tackling climate change. It is true that the aviation industry has, in the past, helped to limit emissions by improvements in engine technology. However, these measures alone are not adequate”, said Mr Tiefensee in Brussels. “We will continue the discussion at the June Council, and my aim is that we can then also agree on our position for the negotiations at the ICAO Council.
