EU getting tougher on aviation - but we need more

The Citizen carried my letter re Staverton today - see photo - the two reports mentioned in that letter are both good news re stopping aviation expansion - there has also been a strong result in the Environment Committee's vote in the European Parliament on proposals by German Christian Democrat Peter Liese to include aviation in the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Green MEP Caroline Lucas said of this: "This vote demonstrates the Parliament's determination to get tough with the aviation sector. It is vital that MEPs stick to their guns on this crucial piece of legislation - a forerunner for full Emissions Trading Scheme Review - since the Council was shamefully keen to water down the Commission's already weak proposal. In particular, I'm delighted that my colleagues have reinstated their support for my proposal to limit the number of permits airlines can buy up from other industries: this is the only way we can truly ensure that the aviation sector itself begins to reduce its emissions, rather than continuing with its business as usual growth trajectory by paying its way out of the problem.

"One of the key principles underpinning cap and trade schemes like the ETS as a means for reducing emissions, is that the cap should progressively reduce over time. It is therefore frankly outrageous that the Council is seeking to keep aircraft operators' initial allocation at the same level for all subsequent trading periods. Fortunately MEPs have voted to gradually reduce the provision of allowances to airlines, in line with the reduction expected for other sectors. Parliament also voted to adopt an emissions multiplier of at least 2, should effective, dedicated alternative measures fail to be brought in to address the aviation sector's full climate impact - which is considerably greater than the impact of CO2 alone.

"It's crucial, too, that we have voted to increase the percentage of permits that are allocated through auctioning to 25% for the first two years of the scheme's operation - far short of the Greens preferred option of 100%, but still a significant improvement on the Council's meagre suggestion of 10%. MEPs have also sought to increase the percentage to be auctioned in subsequent phases, possibly to as much as 100%. And they want the scheme to begin in 2011 rather than 2012 - as we have no time to lose in taking action on the emissions of such a rapidly-growing source.

Dr Lucas concluded: "The Council's Common Position is extremely worrying. Although MEPs have agreed to cooperate in trying to secure a quick second reading agreement - in the interests of getting legislation in place as soon as possible - I will be urging colleagues to accept a compromise only if the Council makes significant moves towards the Parliament's more climate-friendly position during the forthcoming negotiations."