26 Jun 2007 - London,
UK – The EU’s long-awaited decision to include
air travel in its Emissions Trading Scheme
(ETS) will be an important first step to
tackling emissions from aviation. However,
a new WWF report shows that if not managed
properly the scheme could actually drive
up emissions.
The report — Allocation of allowances for
aviation in the EU ETS — shows that the
European Commission’s proposals to hand
out free allowances to passenger flights
could have a perverse effect.
"The current proposal from the European
Commission has one important flaw in it
that may actually encourage people to fly
more during specific years, without adequately
reducing emissions," said Dr Keith
Allott, head of WWF-UK’s climate change
programme.
Emission allowances will, in effect, be
based on the number of people on flights
in the year ending two years before each
trading period. This could encourage airlines
to reduce the price of tickets in a particular
year in order to increase the number of
people taking flights — thereby boosting
their emissions allowances for future trading
periods.
For example, with aviation due to join
the scheme in 2011, passenger numbers could
be raised in 2008. The following emissions
trading period will run from 2013–17, so
airlines may encourage more passengers during
2010. Thus, in 2008 and 2010, the trading
scheme could drive up, rather than reduce,
emissions from aviation.
WWF estimates that requiring airlines to
pay upfront for their allowances could raise
between €3.3 and €9.8 billion per year,
with little or no impact on their profit
margins. This could be used to fund the
development of low carbon technologies and
aid developing countries in adapting to
the impacts of climate change.
“The aviation sector is the fastest growing
source of greenhouse gas emissions and as
such the sector should be paying the full
price of carbon," Dr Allott added.
"Until this happens, we are essentially
subsidising the industry to pollute the
planet.”
END NOTES:
• The report, Allocation of allowances
for aviation in the EU ETS, was undertaken
for WWF by independent consultants CE Delft.
Rob McNeil, Senior Press Officer
WWF-UK
