Mots-clés : Aviation, CO², UE

Le Comité de l'environnement du Parlement européen propose que les émissions de CO2 de l'aviation fasse intégralement partie du système d'échanges des droits d'émission à partir de 2010. Cette proposition a été approuvée par 50 membres, contre 1 abstention et aucune voix contre. Le vote de cette proposition se fera en novembre lors de la prochaine session plénière. Les associations surveilleront de près le vote des parlementaires belges.

Source: Parlement européen. Include aircraft in Emission Trading Scheme by 2010, says Environment Committee

A European Commission plan to include aviation in the EU's Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) was backed by the Environment Committee on Tuesday, but with significantly tougher CO2 emission limits, and a stipulation that the ETS should include flights between the EU and third countries, as well as intra-EU ones, by 2010, rather than 2012 as the Commission had proposed. Whereas the Commission had proposed limiting ETS allowances for CO2 emissions to 100% of aircraft operators' average annual emissions during 2004-2006, Committee members went further, reducing ETS-authorised emissions for aviation to 75%. (This contrasts with the Transport Committee, which last month said the cap should be set at 110% of 2007-2009 emissions). In 2004, greenhouse gas emissions from the EU's share of international aviation were 7.5% up on 2003. The cumulative growth of aviation CO2 emissions amounts to 87% since 1990, in stark contrast to the EU's overall greenhouse gas reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol, which is 8%. The Environment Committee report was approved with 50 votes in favour, none against and one abstention.

All flights to be covered by 2010 The ETS should cover flights between the EU and third countries, as well as intra-EU ones, by 2010, said the committee. (The Commission had proposed that the scheme should cover all intra-EU flights as of 2011, but that flights between the EU and third-country airports should come under its scope only as of 2012). As rapporteur Peter Liese (EPP-ED, DE) commented earlier, "It is difficult to explain that a flight from the UK to Morocco is not covered by the scheme while a flight from the UK to the Canary Islands [would] be covered." The ETS allocates a number of permits to operators, each giving them the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide per year. So the total number of permits sets a limit on the overall emissions from participants in the scheme. While some permits are allocated to operators free of charge, others are traded freely (auctioned) so as to allow emission reductions to be made where they are most cost-effective. While the Commission proposed no specific values for the number of permits to be auctioned, MEPs did so, deciding on an initial figure of 50%. Lastly, whereas the Commission sought to exempt government flights from the scheme, Committee members -- taking the line that governments ought to be setting an example - deleted the exemption.

02/10/2007 Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety In the chair : Miroslav OUZKÝ (EPP-ED, CZ) Procedure: co-decision Plenary vote: November