Is 'Disappointed' In ICAO Position Against The Carbon Tax
The European Union on Thursday said it would proceed with its
plan to assess a carbon tax on airlines operating in European
airspace beginning January 1st despite an ICAO white paper warning
of a potential trade war over the payments.
The ICAO document has the backing of the U.S., China, Japan, and
Russia, according to the French news service AFP. It strongly
recommends that the EU exempt non-European carriers from the rules
scheduled to go into effect at the first of the year.
EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard said earlier in
the week that other countries should be working to reduce their own
emissions to match the EU's standards. She said that no tax would
be imposed if airliners meet EU emission standards.
"It is disappointing that ICAO discussions once again focus on
what States should not do instead of what they should do to curb
growing aviation emissions," Hedegaard said in a statement posted
on the EU website following the release of the ICAO working
paper.
"Unfortunately ICAO has missed again today the opportunity to
tell the world when it will table a viable global solution.
"However, this decision will affect neither the EU's commitment
to working within ICAO to agree on a global solution nor our
adopted legislation to include aviation in the EU ETS (Emissions
Trading Scheme).
"Europe is delivering on its commitment to reduce emissions. And
it's doing so in line with principles that ICAO has itself
endorsed. If the other countries want to reduce aviation emissions
differently, that is fine. Our legislation clearly says that if a
country outside the EU takes 'equivalent measures' to reduce
aviation emissions, all incoming flights from that country can be
exempted from the EU system. We really look forward to plans from
other states to reduce aviation emissions."
Reuters reports that the aviation industry has called for quick
action on the ETS or risk a trade and tourism dispute with
countries like the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives
has already passed a resolution forbidding airlines to pay the
tax.
The 26 nations opposing the scheme are warning of a "chaotic
situation" if other countries try to craft similar rules. The
director general of the International Air Transport Association
says the industry was in a position that it could put market-based
tools in place to control emissions, but said the EU should work
internationally rather than making unilateral decisions.