EU environment ministers have proposed changes to the system whereby airlines will be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), voted for by MEPs in November.
Carbon emissions quotas are to be imposed from 2012 rather than 2011, and carriers will have to buy 10% of their CO2 credits rather than the 25% suggested by the European Parliament.
But the cap on emissions will be set at the average level from 2004-2006, something the aviation industry has campaigned should be changed because - taking into account inevitable growth in the sector before 2012 - this will be an extremely tough target.
”We do think this is much more balanced than the scheme that MEPs came up with,” said a spokeswoman for the Association of European Airlines (AEA). ”We are happy that it is much less radical and more realistic, but we”re nowhere near the end of the process because this scheme will still undergo a great deal of changes.”
The AEA had called the Parliament”s proposals ” which included a ”multiplier” making it doubly expensive for airlines to buy CO2 credits from other industries - "a massive blow to the viability and competitiveness of the European airline industry, a barely measurable step for the environment, and extremely bad news for European growth and cohesion".
The spokeswoman added: ”Though the council decision avoids the multiplier, they do want an open system” said the spokeswoman. ”We want to be treated the same as other industries. This 10% auctioning of credits is valid only for first year for us, then it will probably be changed - other industries pay for nothing for their credits - but we will see.
But ETS is just one of the solutions the Association thinks is needed to lower emissions ” it wants changes in infrastructure so that aircraft do not have to fly circuitous routings and wait in holding queues above airports, burning unnecessary fuel.
AEA secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said: ”The most effective way to reduce emissions without impacting traffic is to implement a Single European Sky. An efficient organisation of European airspace would enable airlines to avoid emitting 12m tonnes of CO2 per year. It requires a political will and vision, and we are disappointed that the Environmental Council did not explicitly support us on this.”
Commenting on the inclusion of aviation in the ETS, aviation lobby group FlyingMatters director Michelle Di Leo, said: "This is very good news. The European scheme is a key step in the direction of the ideal: a fully international scheme. We want to see this delivered in a way which encourages improved environmental performance in aviation and generates a positive response from the rest of the international community.”
The changes will now be debated by Parliament.