USA and developing countries unanimous in criticising unilateral scheme to impose charges on foreign airlines
Europe's controversial plans to charge foreign airlines landing at its airports within the framework of an emission trading scheme designed to stem global warming has - as widely expected - come under fire from both the USA and developing countries.
Speaking at last week's International Civil Aviation Organisation Environment Colloquium in Montreal - a prelude to the organisation's General Assembly in September where the world's aviation industry will thrash out exactly what market-based measures to apply - Daniel Calleja, air transport director at the European Commission defended what many see as the EC's unilateral and therefore undesirable move to impose charges.
Calleja told delegates that the EC's move was in accordance with a previous ICAO resolution recommending that international aviation is incorporated into existing trading schemes.
"If we fail it will be a collective failure for the aviation community and it will be impossible to explain to the public why aviation has failed it," he said.
Andrew Steinberg, US assistant secretary for aviation, insisted however that the USA was far from rejecting market-based measures but that any future instrument had to be imposed on an agreed basis. "It is vital to work on a harmonised approach through ICAO on the basis of reciprocity and mutual consent," he said.
Latin America, China and South Africa also criticised Europe's plan. Kenton Sim of Airports Company South Africa said charges were not an effective way to reduce emissions, and that imposing them on developing countries would be unfair.
Kaixuan Zhou of China's CAA said that Europe's unilateral action "may not be helpful" and that China was fully conscious of her responsibilities to reduce emissions as a fast-growing developing nation and would continue to collaborate with ICAO.
Joao Viera from the International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation said voluntary measures would fail to produce a workable global system. "The best way to proceed now is by ICAO proving that it is not only a body that understands the problem of aviation emissions but that it is working on a solution."
David McMillan, UK director general of civil aviation, said the industry needed to move with speed and commitment and urged delegates to reflect on all views on Europe's controversial approach before September.
"There is room for activity and measures relating to market-based measures," he said.
Source: Flight International
