ERA and IACA consistently called for the suspension of the entire EU ETS scheme until ICAO has been able to find an international solution and therefore support the concept of a moratorium.
The EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, announced a moratorium on the enforcement of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) to all international flights to and from the European Union until September 2013 so as to allow ICAO time to find a global solution on aviation emissions. The scheme will remain fully implemented for intra-EU flights.
ERA (European Regions Airline Association) and IACA (International Air Carrier Association) consistently called for the suspension of the entire EU ETS scheme until ICAO has been able to find an international solution and therefore support the concept of a moratorium. But by implementing a two tier scheme where intra EU operators are still obliged to fully implement the law, the European Commission will continue to impose cost and complexity on intra-EU operations with little or no overall environment benefit.
Giving the international community breathing space to tackle a global problem is a sensible step forward. Continuing to load cost and complexity on intra-EU operations only is not a fair solution for Europe.
Commenting on the European Commission’s announcement Mike Ambrose, Director General ERA, and Sylviane Lust, Director General IACA said:
“Since the beginning of the legislative procedure that led to the adoption of the EU ETS, ERA and IACA have been supportive of the EU ETS scheme providing it applied to all airlines. By introducing a two tier system the Commission has created a compromise that unfairly penalises many European carriers operating intra-EU flights and their passengers. ERA and IACA call on the EU Member States and the Parliament to extend the moratorium to all flights.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
