Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Space Industry and Business News .




AEROSPACE
EU freezes controversial aviation carbon tax
by Staff Writers
Brussels (AFP) Nov 12, 2012


IATA hails EU move to suspend CO2 air travel tax
Geneva (AFP) Nov 12, 2012 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) was quick to celebrate an EU announcement Monday offering to suspend a controversial carbon tax on air travel for flights to and from non-European nations.

The announcement by EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard that she had recommended that the EU "stop the clock" for a year on the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) "represents a significant step in the right direction and creates an opportunity for the international community," IATA chief Tony Tyler said in a statement.

Brussels imposed the tax on January 1, claiming it would reduce carbon emissions blamed for climate change, but airlines allege it will cost 17.5 billion euros ($21.2 billion) over eight years.

Over two dozen countries, including India, Russia, China and the United States, have also opposed the move, saying it violates international law.

Tyler said Monday he supported Hedegaard's stance that suspending the controversial EU tax could help boost negotiations on a global deal to rein in CO2 emissions blamed for climate change.

"The commission's pragmatic decision clearly recognises the progress that has been made towards a global solution for managing aviation's carbon emissions," Tyler said, hailing Hedegaard for making "it clear that the EU wishes to create the space for the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) process to succeed.

"The flexibility shown by the European Commission demonstrates that the ICAO process is working," he added.

The European Union executive caved in to critics of its contested carbon tax on air travel Monday, offering to "stop the clock" and freeze the measure for a year on flights to and from non-European nations.

The EU's climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard said at a hastily arranged news conference that she had just recommended in a phone conversation with the 27 EU nations that the tax be suspended in the interests of negotiating a global CO2 deal.

"Finally we have a chance to get an international regulation on emissions from aviation," Hedegaard said, referring to progress on the matter at a Friday meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal.

"But let me be very clear: if this exercise does not deliver -- and I hope it does -- then needless to say we are back to where we are today with the EU ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme). Automatically!" she stressed.

The suspension of the CO2 tax would affect flights "to and from non-European countries", meaning European airlines will continue to pay.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) was quick to celebrate the announcement, with IATA chief Tony Tyler saying in a statement that it "represents a significant step in the right direction and creates an opportunity for the international community".

"The commission's pragmatic decision clearly recognises the progress that has been made towards a global solution for managing aviation's carbon emissions," Tyler said.

"The flexibility shown by the European Commission demonstrates that the ICAO process is working," he added.

Hedegaard said she had recommended "stopping the clock for one year", until after the next ICAO general assembly in autumn 2013, due to signs at Friday's ICAO talks of a move towards a global deal, or "market-based mechanism".

The EU imposed the scheme on January 1, but 26 of ICAO's 36 members, including India, Russia, China and the United States, have opposed the move, saying it violates international law.

The EU tax forces airlines operating in the bloc, whatever their flag, to buy 15 percent of their carbon emissions, or 32 million tonnes, to help battle global warming.

Pay-up time however was due only from next year, once billing for 2012 had been completed.

In a statement, the Association of European Airlines (AEA) "cautiously welcomed" the EU decision, saying it hopes the moratorium "will stimulate action within the notoriously slow-moving ICAO, which must come up with concrete progress towards a global approach".

"As international tensions over the issue have escalated, European airlines have been facing the very real prospect of discrimination and retaliation in our most important global markets, said AEA's acting chief, Athar Husain Khan.

Airbus likewise welcomed the suspension, saying it brought the aviation industry "one step closer" to a coordinated approach to civil aviation emissions.

Brussels had said the scheme would help the 27-nation bloc achieve its goal of cutting emissions 20 percent by 2020.

But airlines allege it will cost 17.5 billion euros ($21.2 billion) over eight years.

The EU counters that the cost is manageable, estimating it could add between four and 24 euros to the price of a round-trip long-haul flight.

India and China have been at the forefront in opposing the scheme. India in April barred its airlines from complying with the EU carbon fee, joining China in resistance.

.


Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








AEROSPACE
Eglin Completes 500th F-35 Sortie
Eglin AFB FL (SPX) Nov 12, 2012
The Integrated Training Center (ITC) here completed its 500th combined sortie for both the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) and F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft Friday. Flight operations for the F-35 began on the Emerald Coast March 6. There are currently 22 F-35s at Eglin as the fleet continues to grow supporting the team as it trains instructor ... read more


AEROSPACE
India unveils new version of 'world's cheapest tablet'

Buzz building for debut of Wii U videogame console

NASA tests 'interplanetary Internet'

Atmospheric CO2 risks increasing space junk: study

AEROSPACE
Raytheon BBN Technologies' WNaN next generation network software selected for NIE 13.1 experiment

Raytheon announces Small Format Guard to secure data transfer for mobile and tactical forces

Pentagon to end exclusive deal with RIM's Blackberry

Space Systems Loral Selected by USAF to Develop Next Gen Protected Military Satellite Communications

AEROSPACE
Ariane 5 is poised for Arianespace's launch with the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 satellites

Ariane 5 orbits EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 satellites

Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 flight is cleared for liftoff with EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3

NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building Prepared for Multiple Rockets

AEROSPACE
Gazprom to Launch Two Satellites by Yearend

Research cruise testing EGNOS satnav for ships

Two SOPS accepts command and control of newest GPS satellite

Telit Introduces LTE Module Expanding Automotive Product Line with 4G for North American and European Markets

AEROSPACE
NGC Signs Danish Composite Manufacturer For F-35 Lightning II Program

F-35 Stopover in Marietta

EU freezes controversial aviation carbon tax

Eglin Completes 500th F-35 Sortie

AEROSPACE
No Japan electronics bailout, minister hints

Quantum kisses change the color of nothing

Ultrasensitive photon hunter

Northrop Grumman Begins Sampling New Gallium Nitride MMIC Product Line

AEROSPACE
Storms, Ozone, Vegetation and More: NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP Satellite Returns First Year of Data

NASA's SPoRT Team Tracks Hurricane Sandy

Sizing up biomass from space

NASA Radar Penetrates Thick, Thin of Gulf Oil Spill

AEROSPACE
China to test 'social risk' of major factories: official

Smog in Indian capital blamed on vehicle increase

USDA Patents Method to Reduce Ammonia Emissions

EU Council adopts marine fuel sulfur cuts




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement