Airlines largely conforming to EU rules on emissions

Despite protests from China and a legal challenge from the US, most airlines are following the EU rules on emissions as part of the plan to include airlines in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by 2013.

Aviation is the fastest growing source of emissions worldwide, even though it only currently accounts for 2 per cent of the total. Only 10 airlines have so far refused to report their emissions for 2011, which is estimated to be only 3 per cent of total emissions covered by the scheme.

Airlines not complying with the new rules will face tough penalties, including a fine of €100 per tonne of carbon emitted, and being banned from flying within the EU. The worry is that the enforcement of such a rule could lead to a strong reaction from other countries, going beyond protest and objection, which is all that has so far happened. Trade and travel bans are certainly not out of the question.

The EU has been particularly pragmatic on the issue, saying that it will back out of the move to include aviation in the ETS if other countries agree on an alternative. So far however, this has not been the case and in February, 23 countries meeting to discuss the issue decided not to challenge the regulations legally.

In commenting on the effectiveness of the ETS, the EU has said that emissions covered under the ETS have shrunk by 2 per cent during 2011 and it maintains that the scheme is delivering cost effective reductions.

EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard has also said that permits will be withdrawn soon in order to increase the price of carbon and increase clean tech investment.