Brussels, 28/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - It is out of the question for the EU to cave in to blackmail, said Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany), asserting: “The EU should stand firm and include international aviation in EU emissions trading (ETS)”. Leinen, who chairs the environment committee at the European Parliament could not conceal his annoyance, on 26 October in Strasbourg, at seeing the US House of Representatives vote a draft law which allows US airlines not to have to pay CO2 emission quotas for their transatlantic flights as of 2012 (see EUROPE 10483). “The EU should refuse to be blackmailed and resort to countermeasures if necessary”, Leinen concluded, addressing members of the parliamentary committee gathered in extraordinary meeting.
Pointing out that air traffic emissions are increasing steadily, Leinen said that including air traffic in the EU ETS will create incentives for greater innovation and efficiency in the sector. He explained that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had already acknowledged the adoption of market based measures, such as emissions trading, in an October 2010 resolution. Leinen felt the vote by the US House of Representatives was arrogant and ignorant, and expressed the hope that it would be the Senate, i.e. President Obama, who would put an end to this attack against international efforts to combat climate change. (AN/transl.jl)