Brussels, 29/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European aviation environmental report, published by the European Commission on Friday 29 January, is a double first.
The report is the result of close cooperation between the Commission and three European agencies - the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and EUROCONTROL - and is based on information provided by these agencies, by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and by the industry.
It provides an unprecedented overview of the pollutions to be tackled - CO2, NOx and aircraft noise - environmental legislation in force and responses already being used in Europe but which could be developed, such as research, operational measures, project technology and design, definition of standards, sustainable alternative fuels, air traffic control (SESAR, Sky Air Traffic management, the technological pillar of the Single European Sky), airports, market-based measures, such as the European greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme (ETS) and systems of airport taxes.
It highlights the huge potential of operational measures for reducing the environmental footprint of a sector that is perceived and caring little for the environment and climate internationally.
“It is a valuable initiative to monitor, promote and strengthen the EU's efforts for a more sustainable European aviation sector”, stated European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, introducing the report.
According to the Commission, the aim of the report is to provide a source of reliable, authoritative information so that the impact of aviation on the environment can be measured and monitored.
“It is important to identify vectors of change. This is an important tool for devising the most effective responses and guiding political decision-making at a key time”, stated Bulc's spokesperson at the presentation of the report to the press on Friday.
Publication of the report is particularly timely, coming as it does after the Commission's adoption of the aviation strategy which seeks, inter alia, to improve and speed up implementation of the single European sky (see EUROPE 11448), after COP 21 and before the ICAO general assembly in September, at which are due to be adopted market-based measures to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of a sector which has remained on the sidelines of the fight against climate change and which was given an easy ride in the Paris Agreement, not being included in the collective effort required. While discussions are progressing on a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) mechanism, it is still “premature to talk about political progress, but there is a lot of good will to come to agreement by September”, an ICAO expert said on Friday. Next week, an ICAO meeting is scheduled to take forward the development of the first aircraft CO2 emissions standards, he indicated. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)