UN body 'threatens EU aviation emissions plan'

The UN body responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation has ‘failed in its duty’ to limit the impact of flights on climate change, according to a new report.

The report, by the Brussels-based sustainable transport campaign group, Transport and Environment (T&E), says this now threatens EU plans for aviation emissions trading.

Under the terms of the 1997 Kyoto protocol, responsibility for cutting emissions from international aviation was given to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN body.

But, according to the T&E report, over the last decade the organisation has failed to endorse any serious policy option for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.

Publication of the report on Monday coincides with the start of the general assembly of the ICAO in Montreal, which runs from 18-28 September.

Discussions on emissions trading over the last year have stalled on a dispute between states on whether a country can apply an emissions trading scheme to all carriers flying within, from or to its territory, regardless of their nationality.

States such as the US, that do not want their carriers to be part of an EU emissions trading scheme, argue that their carriers should only be obliged to enter the system under the basis of 'mutual agreement' between the states concerned. 

But, says T&E, these states are intent not to give their agreement, making the scheme instantly unfair and unworkable.

João Vieira, of T&E, which represents 49 environmental organisations in 21 countries, said, "After a shameful decade of inaction and obstruction, the ICAO must now give its full support to emissions trading and other measures to combat rapidly-growing aviation emissions.

“The EU must be prepared to go it alone should the ICAO give anything less than full backing to the emissions trading plan."

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