European airline chiefs believe political will is needed if the current environmental debate is to be moved away from the contentious issue of the European Union's emissions trading system, to help avert the issue escalating into a wider trade conflict.
The debate around the inclusion of aviation into the EU's emissions trading system, which enters force from the start of next year, has become more tense as non-EU states are increasingly vocal in their opposition to implementation of the stand-alone scheme. More than 20 states recently signed a declaration of opposition to the scheme and warning of retaliatory action.
Speaking during a debate on the issue at the recent World Air Forum in Amsterdam, Julie Oettinger, assistant adminstrator, policy, international affairs and environment at the US FAA, said: "We have a very aggressive domestic programme to combat aviation emissions. We are taking this issue very seriously. But this is an inherently global problem and requires a global solution. We agree on the objective, but think it's the wrong way to get there."
Also speaking at the World Air Forum, Association of European Airlines secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus noted many of the different perspectives on aviation emissions have been formed from the EU ETS and that the debate needs to be widened away from the EU ETS itself.
"Moving away from the EU ETS debate and to the ICAO solution is the way to go, but it does need the political will," he said. "Unfortunately given the reactions from third countries, it [ETS] has now become a political issue, people are talking about possible trade conflicts, and we are very, very keen to ensure that we continue to have the assurances of a non-discriminatory implementation of a scheme which will deliver on environmental benefits. We are asking the Commission, we are asking the European member states and above all third countries to make sure we can have that.
"The way forward is to get the experts that have developed several proposals to be given the political support they require," he added.
"We need a power such as the EU or the United States to assume leadership.
"What airlines need is planning stability. We are increasingly concerned that if there is a lack of political leadership, this discussion about the ETS will get out of control and will escalate into a direction that is to the detriment of the European economy, European airlines and European consumers."
Amid this increased tension airline leaders and executives from the Association of European Airlines met Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso earlier this month to discuss the issue, believing the fact Barroso found time to meet the AEA at the height of the eurozone turmoil demonstrates he understands the dimenisions of the issue facing European carriers.
"President Barroso was adamant that the EU ETS is a law which will not be changed," AEA noted after the meeting. "However, he strongly endorses the view that non-discriminatory implementation of the EU ETS is vital to maintain European competitiveness."
Source: Flight International
