| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2013) 722 final (16.10.13) |
| Publication Date | 16/10/2013 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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Emissions from aviation are one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. As the technological potential for emissions reduction is limited in the aviation sector, market-based measures (MBMs) allow aviation to contribute to emission reductions by the airlines offsetting their strong emission growth through funding emission reductions in other sectors. The suitability of MBMs for international aviation has long been recognised. The 2001 ICAO Assembly endorsed the application of open emissions trading systems to international aviation. Following the ICAO's 2004 endorsement of regional MBMs, the EU led the way by including aviation in its Emission Trading System (EU ETS). Despite its positive environmental effects at low economic costs, the implementation of the EU ETS has had to face significant international opposition (e.g. allegations that regulating emissions from airlines based outside the EU would violate the sovereignty of third states). The European Court of Justice has, however, dismissed appeals by foreign airlines in this respect and confirmed the legality of the EU ETS. At the same time, the integration of aviation into the EU ETS has been decisive in driving forward ICAO discussions. The intensive engagement of the EU in tackling climate change has been crucial in generating momentum in ICAO towards global action for addressing aviation emissions. Clearly, given the EU ETS would only ever cover a proportion of international aviation emissions, the overall strong global growth of these emissions will continue if no MBM is implemented on a global level, and emission reduction goals will remain aspirational. The 2013 38th ICAO Assembly has now decided on the development of a global MBM to be finalised at the next ICAO Assembly in 2016 and to be implemented by 2020. Progress was not made on a "framework" for national/ regional MBMs up to 2020, as in particular the Assembly resolution repeated the same language as from the 2007 and 2010 Assemblies and the European States confirmed their position on the 2007 and 2010 Assembly resolutions as concerns so-called 'mutual agreement'. In response to this progress on a global MBM and to promote further momentum, the Commission considers it appropriate to propose lowering the proportion of emissions to which the EU emissions trading system should apply up to 2020. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2013:722:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Environment, Mobility and Transport |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
