Aerospace Diary

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  NOVEMBER 12, 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS China has stood at the forefront of an increasingly bitter dispute over Europe’s insistence on imposing its emissions trading scheme on non-European carriers such as China Eastern Airlines, but now the European Commission has backed off. (Photo: Airbus) November 12, 2012, 12:05 PM The European Commission has suspended the implementation of its emissions trading scheme ( ETS ) for international flights in and out of the European Union for 12 months on the grounds that it now expects to see a deal on a multilateral global alternative at the next  ICAO  Assembly in September/October 2013.  EU  climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard announced the move on November 12 in response to a November 9 decision by the  ICAO  Council to press ahead with plans for a globally agreed version of the  ETS . Non- EU  operators now won...

Neelam Mathews Nov 13, 2012 As Aerospace Diary had reported from the AAPA conference in KL last week that “something surprising” was to be announced by the EU on ETS, it has happened. It has been decided to suspend the EU-ETS missions Trading System (ETS) for flights into and out of Europe for a period of one year to allow time for ICAO to finalize a global scheme. "The Commission’s pragmatic decision clearly recognizes the progress that has been made towards a global solution for managing aviation’s carbon emissions by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO. EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard said: "The EU has always been very clear: nobody wants an international framework tackling CO2-emissions from aviation more than we do. Our EU legislation is not standing in the way of this. On the contrary, our regulatory scheme was adopted after having waited many years for ICAO to prog...

Neelam Mathews Nov 9, 2012 Kuala Lumpur Dissenting voices that recently got louder against the EU- ETS are being heard, according to Matthew Baldwin, Director, Aviation Directorate DG MOVE of the EU speaking at a panel discussion at AAPAs 56th Presidents Assembly here today. "We have recognized the strength of opposition to the ETS. There is a compromise coming from Europe and the leadership of ICAO. We hope we surprise people in this room on how far we are willing to go." Baldwin added: "Later today, in Montreal, the ICAO Council is meeting and we hope to set a sustainable roadmap for the Assembly meeting next September. Goh Choon Fong, CEO SIA was clear. "We have been vocal in our opposition to ETS. Yes, we are complying.....glad to hear compromise is coming out of Europe. This is one of the challenges the airline (has had to face) that is out of its control."

Neelam Mathews Oct 1, 2011 Last week, a senior official associated with the EU Climate Action office, when asked about the EU-Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) meet organized by India for non-EU ICAO Council members for a joint action-plan on the levy to be imposed from Jan 1, 2012, said dismissingly: “If they don’t  want to pay, they should keep off European airspace. What is the need for the Joint Declaration?” That, to most of us on the fringes reporting on this subject, sums it all. The arrogant, narcissistic and high-handed unflinching attitude of EU towards the rest of the world, cannot be overlooked. With Jan 2012 around the corner, the economically frail EU that took on obligations by signing the Kyoto Protocol, is starting to get the bubbly out as it celebrates its victory in anticipation of collecting a levy that nobody knows where the money will be directed to. Today, every carrier has filed its emission report to the EU, though many under protest. This brings one to ...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Sept 30, 2011 An international meeting of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council and other non-EU Member States was held in New Delhi on 29th -30th September to discuss the inclusion of aviation in the European Union Emission Trading System (EU-ETS). The meeting was chaired by Dr. Nasim Zaidi, Secretary, M/o Civil Aviation. A detailed agenda was deliberated upon including discussions on the legal objections to EU-ETS, policy objections, the role of ICAO- the way forward and discussions on next steps. The countries present were: Argentine Republic, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United States of America. It was attended by over 70 delegates. There was wide concern expressed by all countries present, without exception, that the un...

Neelam Mathews Sept 13, 2011 At the 8 th Ministerial meeting in Inhotim, Brazil, South Africa , India and China (BASIC) issued a joint statement on climate change on August 27, 2011.    While India, Brazil, and South Africa are the leading members of BASIC, Argentina as chair of G77 and China are permanent invitees. The Ministers expressed their concern with unilateral climate change measures, planned or implemented, which generate negative impacts on other countries. They expressed their strong concern with the decision of the European Union to include the aviation sector in the EU Emission Trading System, including flights to and from its territory by non-European companies. Starting next January, passengers on Asian airlines will likely have to pay an average of US$8 more for European routes due to taxes imposed to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has invited non-EU countries on Sept 28-29 to discuss EU’s Emission Trad...