Climate Change News
Below are news items on climate change – many with relevance to aviation
Connie Hedegaard: Time to get the proportions right on ETS and aviation
Connie's website gives basic figures of what the ETS will actually cost foreign airlines. For example, the estimated CO2 emissions per passenger of a one-way flight from Paris to Beijing would be around 627 kg. The value of the allowances that need to be surrendered would be €7.52 per passenger at current carbon prices. Given the high level of free allocation of allowances to airlines, it is estimated that the cost for the airline in purchasing additional allowances to cover the emissions would be €1.50. And for a one way flight from Delhi to London, about €0.65
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Suspension of EU-ETS ‘out of the question’, says top EU climate official
Europe’s top climate official, Jos Delbeke, has said Europe will ‘not accept’ retaliatory action against the inclusion of aviation emissions in the ETS. Speaking at an event in Brussels organised by an international coalition of environmental groups, Mr Delbeke also said that suspension of the EU-ETS was “out of the question”. “ He laid out the conditions under which a global system could eventually replace the EU-ETS for aviation. The EU would consider “modifying its legislation” if ICAO made significant progress towards a global deal later this year. Contrary to popular belief, aviation emissions have continued to grow strongly throughout the financial crisis with an 11.2% increase seen over the period 2005-2010. Bill Hemmings of T&E said: “The ball is now firmly back in ICAO’s court. The international community needs to come up with a timely, effective and workable global solution through a transparent process that all stakeholders can contribute to.”
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EU says it won’t back down in airline emissions row
The EC has stood by its position in an ongoing dispute with China over the ETS ahead of an EU-China summit in Beijing on 14th Feb. The EC "remains confident that Chinese airlines will comply with EU legislation when operating through EU airports." The Chinese government said it had barred its airlines from joining the ETS. The EC warned that financial penalties would apply to airlines that refuse to comply with it. The ETS would add less than €2 to the price of a flight from Shanghai to Europe, but the cost of an airline not complying is a fine of €100 for each tonne of CO2 emitted. Chinese airlines have already applied for free carbon allowances to which they are entitled. Foreign countries could exempt their airlines from the EU scheme if they adopted similar "equivalent measures" at home.
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European Energy Exchange (EEX) to launch EU aviation carbon permits in April
The European Energy Exchange will launch a derivatives market for EU carbon permits for airlines in April and a spot market by mid-year. They say this opens its market for a new group of participants. So-called EU Aviation Allowances (EUAA) can only be used by airlines to comply with the EU’s emissions trading scheme, the world’s biggest carbon market. Leipzig-based EEX is not alone in offering trade in EUAAs. Last month, commodity Exchange Bratislava (CEB) said it would launch trade in EU aviation emissions permits before the end of February. London-based ICE Futures Europe accounts for about 90% of all traded volume in EU carbon permits
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Opponents of EU airline CO2 scheme to meet in Moscow
A group of 26 countries vehemently opposed to the EU ETS will meet in Moscow on February 21 to discuss a plan of action. The governments, which include Russia, India, China and the US, claim the ETS is discriminatory and illegal, and some are prohibiting their carriers from complying. They argue the scheme violates the Chicago Convention and some WTO provisions. The group last met in New Delhi in late September 2011, where it issued a joint declaration against the scheme and agreed to lodge a formal protest with the ICAO. Since then the European Court of Justice found that the EU plan was within international law. The EU is not going to back down, as there is no other working scheme to check aviation emissions.
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NOAA data show globally 2011 was the 11th warmest year since 1880
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data for all of 2011 show that global combined land and ocean surface temperature was 0.51°C above the 20th century average of 13.9°C. This was the 11th warmest since 1880. This marks the 35th consecutive year, since 1976, that the yearly global temperature was above average. Global land surface temperature was the 8th warmest on record, and global ocean surface temperature the 11th warmest ever. When compared to previous La Niña years, the 2011 global surface temperature was the warmest observed during such a year. Including 2011, all 11 years in the 21st century so far (2001–2011) rank among the 13 warmest in the 132-year period of record.
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Chinese airlines refuse to pay EU carbon tax
The 4 main Chinese airlines, Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines, which fly millions of passengers to Europe each year, have said they will not pay the ETS charges. This might lead to a ban from European airports. There are warnings of a trade war, and it has been suggested that China's airlines should counter by reducing purchases of Airbus aircraft. The ETS costs expanding airlines more than those not expanding. China says it is still at the stage of rapid expansion of their airline industries and so find it difficult to cut overall emissions.
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Aviation joining ETS not likely to increase air fares any time soon
The Telegraph, which has long campaigned against taxes on aviation or anything that increases the price of flying, complains about the recent entry of aviation into the EU ETS. And how it will increase the cost of flying .... in 10 years time.... The price of carbon is now very low - at about €7 - 8 per tonne of carbon, making permits cheap. Increases in fares will not happen till 2013. Many airlines will not pass on the extra price to their customers, as demand is weak at present due to the recession. Airlines get 85% of their allowances free in the first year, and between 2013 and 2020, airlines will get 82% of the permits for free, with 15% auctioned to meet additional needs and 3% set aside for new entrants to the scheme.
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Airlines to enter emissions trading scheme from 1st January 2012
On 1st January, aviation joins the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Airlines will have to obtain carbon credits for all carbon emitted during flights into and out of Europe. This could save around 183 million tonnes of CO2 each year by 2020. Passengers could expect between €0.5 and just under €3 to be added to ticket prices as a direct consequence of the ETS and easyJet said the cost would be about 30 - 50p per passenger for flights within Europe. Permits do not need to actually be handed over till 2013. In practice airlines are getting 85% of the permits they need in the first year free, so they are in a good position to make windfall profits out of them scheme. Airlines are trying to make out that they are already being charged an environmental tax, in APD. But APD is not seen by the government as being an environmental tax. Air passengers are therefore not being charged twice for their travel carbon emissions.
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EU airline carbon tax (Emissions Trading System) backed by European Court
EU plans to levy an emissions tax on airlines are valid, according to the European Court of Justice. The decision means all airlines flying to and from the 27 states of the EU will face a tax on emissions from 1 January. US, Canadian and other carriers argue the charges violate climate change and aviation pacts but the ECJ ruled that the ETS does not infringe the principles of customary international law at issue or the Open Skies Agreement. Airlines can choose whether to fly to EU countries, or not. The US House of Representatives passed a measure two months ago directing the US transport secretary to prohibit US carriers from participating in the scheme if it were to come into force.