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Communication on Reducing the Climate Change Impact of Aviation Directorate C – Air and Chemicals

Communication on Reducing the Climate Change Impact of Aviation Directorate C – Air and Chemicals DG Environment European Commission. Overview. The problem: climate change Aviation’s impact on climate change EU policy Next steps. The climate change challenge.

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Communication on Reducing the Climate Change Impact of Aviation Directorate C – Air and Chemicals

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  1. Communication on Reducing the Climate Change Impact of Aviation Directorate C – Air and Chemicals DG Environment European Commission

  2. Overview • The problem: climate change • Aviation’s impact on climate change • EU policy • Next steps

  3. The climate change challenge

  4. The climate change challenge

  5. Climate impacts of air transport • Direct and/or indirect effects from: • CO2 • NOx through effects on ozone and methane • Water vapour triggering contrails and cirrus clouds • Sulphate and soot aerosols • Overall « radiative forcing » is about twice as high as that due to aviation CO2 emissions (without cirrus effects)

  6. Cirrus cloud effect potentially significant Photo: Nasa

  7. EU GHG emissions by sector

  8. Growth may offset Kyoto efforts By 2012, aviation GHG emissions could offset more than 25% of the cuts required to meet the European Community’s targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

  9. Distribution by route category Estimated fuel burn - all in- and outbound flights (2004) Source: EUROCONTROL

  10. The current political context • High fuel and oil prices • Economic difficulties for some airlines BUT • Emissions from air transport is increasing • Recent dramatic events demonstrate the potentially huge costs of climate change

  11. Aviation emissions under the UNFCCC and ICAO • UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol: • Only domestic CO2 emissions are included in targets under Kyoto Protocol • Obligation to pursue the limitation or reduction of emissions from aviation, working through ICAO • ICAO: • Decided not to pursue a new international agreement on aviation emissions trading • Endorsed the concept of open emissions trading for aviation through: • voluntary emissions trading • integrated trading (incorporation into State’s existing trading schemes)

  12. Key political mandates • 6th Environment Action Programme: Community action if no action in ICAO by 2002 • Council Conclusions COP-10: Reiterates invitation to Commission to make proposals in 2005

  13. Adoption of Communication • Communication adopted 27 September 2005 • Informed by : • Study on aviation and emissions trading (July 2005) • Web consultation 11 March – 6 May 2005 • Stakeholder meeting in GreenWeek 1 June 2005

  14. Building on existing measures • More research into cleaner air transport • Improving air traffic management • Towards more consistent application of energy taxation

  15. Further action needed Options: • En-route emissions charges • Emissions trading

  16. Emissions charges • Commission view that en-route emissions charges are compatible with international law but this remains contentious outside Europe • Charges strongly opposed by industry

  17. Emissions Trading • Environmentally and economically efficient • Concept endorsed by ICAO • No constraints in Chicago Convention, bilateral air service agreements etc. • Considered preferable by airlines and airports

  18. Recommendations • Comprehensive approach • Proposes to take steps towards including aviation in the EU ETS as soon as feasible • Alongside continuing work on: • research into greener air transport • improvements in air traffic managment • removing legal barriers for taxing aircraft fuel • improvements in technical design standards

  19. Key design parameters • ENTITY: Aircraft operators • EMISSIONS COVERAGE: CO2 and non-CO2 impacts should be addressed to the extent possible • SCOPE: In environmental terms, the preferred option is to cover all flights departing from EU airports • ALLOCATION: Harmonised allocation methodology

  20. Council Conclusions • Adopted in December 2005 • Recognised that, from an economic and environmental point of view, the inclusion of the aviation sector in the EU ETS seems to be the best way forward • Urges the Commission to bring forward a legislative proposal by end 2006 • Welcomes the creation of a working group and sets out some preliminary guiding principles

  21. Aviation Working Group • Set up under the ECCP II • Included representatives from Member States, industry and NGOs • Advised the Commission on the design of the scheme • Report published on 28 April available on the Commission website

  22. Next steps • Commission in ”listening and thinking” mode: • welcome views and contributions from all stakeholders • Impact assessment ongoing • Report on review of ETS by 30 June 2006 • Contribute to ICAO efforts to develop guidance on emissions trading • Aim for legislative proposal end of 2006 • EU institutions likely to take 1-3 years to adopt the proposal.

  23. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION For further information: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/aviation_en.htm

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