The European Parliament's environment committee last week voted for a significantly tougher CO2 emissions cap on aviation, demanding that non-EU airlines fall in line two years before the European Commission had originally proposed. But environmental pressure groups accused MEPs of taking a "step backwards".
The EC had suggested limiting total carbon credits to 100% of aircraft operators' average annual emissions during 2004-6 while committee members opted for a more stringent cap of 75% of that baseline.
They also voted that the scheme should cover flights between the EU and third countries by 2010, whereas the EC had proposed that flights from these countries should come under its scope only in 2012.
While the EC proposed no specific values for the number of carbon credits to be auctioned, MEPs decided on an initial figure of 50%, disappointing environmental non-government organisations. "The vote represents a step back from an earlier resolution by the Parliament in July 2006 that said the sector should cut emissions in line with Kyoto Protocol targets. The decision also comes in contrast to an earlier EU commitment to cut overall greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30% by 2020," says João Vieira of pressure group Transport & Environment.
"While it's somewhat reassuring that MEPs have strengthened the EC's proposal, they haven't gone far enough in tackling rising emissions from the sector."
T&E was however satisfied that the committee agreed that until an EC-commissioned study on the climate effects of nitrogen oxide emissions, the sector should be subject to a two-times emissions multiplier.
The full parliament will now vote on the EC proposal in mid-November. Agreement must then be reached between the European Parliament and Europe's 25 environment ministers, who will discuss the proposal at their December meeting in Brussels.
Source: Flight International
