Transcript Tim Johnson, Aviation and Environment Federation

European Climate Change Programme (ECCP II) Stakeholder Conference
24 October 2005, Brussels
ECCP II and aviation:
NGO perspectives
Tim Johnson
Aviation Environment Federation
[email protected] www.aef.org.uk
Aviation & Climate Change: the Communication
In advance of the Communication, the environmental NGOs
called for:
• urgent action given the sector’s growing contribution to
greenhouse gas emissions;
• regional action - little or no prospect for agreement on
global instruments in the short- to medium-term;
• the development of a broad package of measures to
tackle aviation’s climatic impact.
Welcome the Communication and its acknowledgment of all
these issues.
Aviation & Climate Change: the Communication
As a first step, we welcome the Commission’s
announcement to establish a working group to inform a
proposal on how aviation could be included in the EU ETS.
BUT …
Including aviation in the ETS must not become an end in
itself;
Our support is heavily dependent on defining effective
environmental and design criteria for aviation’s inclusion;
We offer 7 policy tests or “golden rules” …
Policy Test 1 Environmental objectives in line with current and future EU
climate targets.
- 8% below 1990 by 2010 (Kyoto)
- 30% below 1990 by 2020
Implications for aviation’s inclusion in the ETS?
May require other regulatory and fiscal instruments in
parallel.
Include emissions from international aviation in any post2012 international climate treaty framework.
Policy Test 2 Should apply strong climate policies compared to “exposed
sectors” sensitive to imports and relocation.
Implications for aviation’s inclusion in the ETS?
Well designed instruments that do not discriminate between
carriers on the same routes, will not lead to significant
economic distortions and do not significantly harm the
competitiveness of EU airlines.
Policy Test 3 Policy must address the full climate impact of aviation
Implications for aviation’s inclusion in the ETS?
Different policy instruments could address different impacts
such as NOx or contrails.
Such measures should be introduced in parallel to the ETS.
If such a package cannot be delivered in parallel,
environmental integrity could be ensured through the ETS
by using multipliers on CO2 emissions.
Policy Test 4 Policies should have the widest geographical scope
possible
Implications for aviation’s inclusion in the ETS?
Include all flights to, from and between EU airports
Policy Test 5 Full internalisation of climate costs based on the polluterpays principle.
Will strengthen incentives to invest in cleaner technology
and to reduce emissions.
Implications for aviation’s inclusion in the ETS?
Preference for auctioning of permits
or
Use of other economic instruments in parallel
Policy Test 6 Climate change policies should contribute to ending historic
and obsolete tax privileges enjoyed by the aviation industry
Implications for aviation’s inclusion in the ETS?
ETS must be part of a package of measures;
Welcome the Communication’s reiteration of its preference,
as a matter of principle, to see aircraft fuel subject to energy
taxes.
Welcome long-term initiatives to make this possible.
Policy Test 7 Climate change policies should aim to reduce the EU’s oil
dependence
Implications for aviation’s inclusion in the ETS?
Design of instruments should maximise demand and supply
opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce emissions