UK government ministers have launched a consultation on the aviation sector”s role in the European Union”s (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
The ETS places a total cap on the amount of carbon dioxide allowed to be emitted and allocates allowances to cover emissions. If airlines exceed this, they will have to buy an equivalent number of allowances from the carbon market, while those that emit less, can sell theirs.
”We have led the debate in Europe calling for aviation to be brought into the ETS,” said aviation minister, Gillian Merron, adding: ”Aviation plays an important role in our economy and a balance needs to be struck between environmental, economic and social considerations. Aviation should meet its environmental costs and emissions trading is the best option for us.”
The consultation seeks responses to several issues such as; which flights should be included in the scheme, for example, those arriving in and departing from the EU or just those flying between EU airports, when aviation should enter the scheme, regulation and how allowances will be allocated.
Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that domestic UK aviation accounted for 0.4% of CO2 emissions, while international aviation reached 6% of the total.