A prominent airfreight organisation has urged the European Union to hold fire on the implementation of its Emission Trading Scheme (EMT), which will, from January onwards, require airlines crossing EU airspace to purchase permits for carbon emission produced over a certain limit.
According to the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), the EU should suspend the launch of EMT and instead consider a global agreement on aviation carbon emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organisation, IFW reported.
In a letter sent to climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard, TIACA outlined the four main concerns that it has with the ETS - that is constitutes a violation of international laws and treaties, that it could impose huge taxes on aviation, that it is unlikely to improve the environment, and that it may lead to 'unintended circumstances' such as encouraging carriers to fly less direct routing.
'A better way forward is to take a global approach,' said Oliver Evans, vice-chairman of TIACA and chairman of its industry affairs committee. 'TIACA endorses the industry-wide emissions goals articulated by the Air Transport Action Groups, including carbon neutral growth from 2020 and a 50 per cent net reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 relative to 2005.
'We firmly believe that aviation emissions must be addressed through a global framework and that the appropriate body for developing such an approach is the International Civil Aviation Organisation.'
