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Civil aviation conference rejects EU push for emission cuts
Montreal (AFP) Sept 28, 2007 The International Civil Aviation Organization on Friday adopted a broad program to counter the effects of global warming in the aviation industry, but rejected EU proposals to cut carbon emissions. After meeting for 10 days, majority of delegates at the United Nations body that specializes in air transportation rejected a European Union proposal to to impose quotas on CO2 emissions on airlines and include airlines in emissions trading schemes. EU officials plan to impose such restrictions starting in 2012 for all flights landing or departing its air space. The proposal was heavily criticized by a broad majority of countries at the event, which instead adopted a resolution in which it "urges contracting states to refrain from unilateral implementation of greenhouse gas emissions schemes." In Brussels, the European Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- said that the delegates "refused to sign up to meaningful targets to reduce aviation emissions." Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing the airline industry, said the European initiatives were misguided. "Europe's unilateral approach to emissions trading confuses taking leadership with taking cash," Bisignani said. "It is disappointing and irresponsible." Commercial flights currently account for two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the ICAO, but that is likely to pass three percent by 2050. The ICAO assembly meets every three years to refine, harmonize or set new worldwide air travel regulations. "We are disappointed by the outcome and believe ICAO has abdicated the leadership role given to it in the Kyoto Protocol," said Luis Fonseca de Almeida, the general director of civil aviation for Portugal. "That is a very great failing that should concern us all." The top US official at the event downplayed the disagreement. "I don't think it is a big problem," said Andrew Steinberg, the assistant secretary of aviation and international affairs at the US Department of Transportation. "The issue of unilateral adoption of emission trading schemes for international aviation is one that will be settled probably legally," Steinberg told AFP. "There is no disagreement on appropriate use on market based measures. The disagreement between EU and most of the ICAO assembly have to do with whether market-based measures that result in charges .... can be imposed on another countries carriers without the consent of the country," he said. Related Links All about the robots on Earth and beyond!
Mountains of rubbish threaten Himalayan resort
Gulmarg, India (AFP) Sept 25, 2007Tonnes of litter dumped at Indian Kashmir's showpiece Himalayan resort are threatening a fragile alpine ecology and endangering villagers dependent on its glacial waters. |
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