Regulating the aviation industry
MEPs in the European Parliament Environment Committee (ENVI) voted this Tuesday to include European airlines and all flights to the EU in the emissions trading system (ETS) by 2010. By this they are speeding up the EC’s proposal to include flights within the EU by 2011 and flights to-and-from the EU by 2012, thus combining both dates into one earlier date, according to an article in Reuters. ENVI also reduced the EC-proposed allowance of CO2 based on the average annual emissions from 2004-2006, to only 75% of that average. Furthermore they voted in favour auctioning 50% of their allowance, rather than being given carbon credits and that the cost of the permits be multiplied by 2. The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) is fuming at their “irresponsible” decisions that have been hacked-up with no consideration to the industry and those that it employs.
An article with words from Mike Ambrose, Director General expresses the sheer lack of common sense displayed by ENVI on the aviation industry:
“The EC’s original proposal had significant weaknesses but was at least supported by an impact assessment of sorts. The amendments proposed by the ENVI, however, have been made without even a simple impact assessment. The majority of MEPs who voted would have had no idea of the severe economic, social or even environmental consequences of the actions they were taking. ENVI has treated the objectives of the Lisbon Agenda as a joke. To propose such changes without any consideration of the impact on the industry, jobs and Europe’s international competitiveness is unacceptable.”
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These vindictive amendments illustrate ENVI’s embarrassing lack of understanding of the massive impacts their actions might entail,”
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The extremism displayed by ENVI this week both reduces its credibility and harms the cause of sincere and well-meaning environmentalists,” Ambrose concluded.
A vote on the bill in the full European Parliament is expected in November.