EU air compromise reached on aviation pollution

A new crackdown on aircraft pollution as part of efforts to curb carbon emissions has been agreed by Euro-MPs and EU governments.

Subject to final approval next month, the plan brings the aviation industry - one of the fastest-growing emitters of greenhouse gases – into Europe’s emissions trading scheme for the first time.

Heavy industry is already involved in the emissions trading scheme – buying and selling emissions “permits” within CO2 limits set for the sector by Brussels. Cleaner factories can sell their surplus permits to less efficient plants, encouraging a general move to lower emissions.

Now the aim is to include aviation to help achieve an EU pledge to cut total carbon dioxide emissions by 30% from 1990 levels by 2020.

A compromise hammered out in Brussels today would mean that all flights departing from or arriving in any EU countries would be subject to CO2 limits from 2012, with an overall CO2 emissions ceiling for aviation based on pollution levels in 2004-2006.

MEPs wanted the emission ceiling set at 10% below the annual average in 2004-2006. Today’s compromise sets the figure at just 3% lower in 2010, and 5% lower in 2013, with percentage reductions in subsequent years still to be set.

The aim is a steady reduction in total permitted CO2 output from aircraft, but Friends of the Earth said the figures were too marginal to make much difference.

FoE aviation campaigner Richard Dyer said: “Aviation should be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme, but ministers have watered it down so much that it will do little to curb the rapid growth in aviation’s climate-wrecking emissions.

“If the EU is serious about developing a low-carbon future it must tackle the rising impact of air travel, for example by pressing for inclusion of international aviation and shipping emissions in the post-2012 international climate change agreement.”

Capping emissions at 97% of 2004-2006 levels in 2012 would still leave CO2 output from aircraft 90% higher than 1990 levels, FoE said, while giving away 85% of the emissions trading “permits” for free would mean unjustified windfall profits for airlines.

Money gathered from the auctioning of the remaining 15% of emissions trading permits would have to be spent on climate change-related work, such as research into cleaner aircraft and anti-deforestation efforts in the developing world.

Today’s deal exempts small airline companies producing low emissions and the terms of the agreement do not prevent governments imposing other “green” measures, including taxes, on the aviation sector.

German MEP Peter Liese, who helped broker the compromise, said: “A global agreement is our final goal, but the inclusion of third country flights starting and landing in Europe is a major step for the global fight against climate change.”

The accord now needs formal agreement from EU environment ministers, and from the European Parliament in Strasbourg in a vote next month.