Air cargo shippers get reprieve from EU on emissions

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the announcement by the European Commissioner for Climate Action suspending the inclusion of international aviation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).

“Commissioner Connie Hedegaard’s announcement that she has ‘stopped the clock’ on the imposition of the EU ETS on flights to and from non-EU countries represents a significant step in the right direction and creates an opportunity for the international community,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

He added that the Commission’s “pragmatic decision” clearly recognizes the progress that has been made towards a global solution for managing aviation’s carbon emissions by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The details of how the pause in the application of the EU ETS will be administered at a technical level remain to be clarified, and the proposal still needs to go through the co-decision process with the EU States and Parliament. Nonetheless, Commissioner Hedegaard has made it clear that the EU wishes to “create the space” for the ICAO process to succeed.

“The flexibility shown by the European Commission demonstrates that the ICAO process is working, and we look forward to seeing all parties working together to present positive proposals to the ICAO Assembly in September 2013,” said Tyler.

Brandon Fried, executive director of the Air Forwarders Association, told LM that his board members were “relieved by the relaxed position for the time being.

“And U.S. legislation forbidding adherence to the requirement is on it’s way to the White House,” he said. “Still, the battle is not over since the EU may not agree with the ICAO awaited solution outcome.”