. Solar Energy News .




.
AEROSPACE
EU court backs bloc in airlines emissions fight
by Staff Writers
Luxembourg (AFP) Oct 6, 2011


An EU decision to force foreign airlines to buy carbon permits "is compatible with international law," the advocate general of the European Union Court of Justice said Thursday.

The court's legal opinion, which judges usually follow although they are not bound to agree with it, relates to a case brought by north American carriers, but will likely also affect Chinese and Indian airlines who have said they will launch a similar case before the end of the year.

In a legal opinion issued by the Luxembourg-based court, its advocate general Juliane Kokott said "the inclusion of international aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme is compatible with the provisions and principles of international law invoked."

The legal argument is pressing because from January 1, airlines will have to buy credits allowing them to emit gases scientists say are harmful to the earth's atmosphere whenever they use European airspace.

The new EU law was drawn up as part of Europe's long-running efforts to mitigate climate change.

After taxing industry's emissions in this way, the EU now wants airlines -- which contribute 3.0 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions -- to reduce their carbon footprint.

Several carriers and airline associations have challenged the decision by the 27 EU states to force airlines flying in and out of Europe to buy the permits under the bloc's Emissions Trading System (ETS).

"We are disappointed with the opinion of the advocate general, but it is only part of a complex set of developments concerning" the trading system, head of industry group the International Air Transport Association Tony Tyler said.

Tyler said that "many governments are rightly concerned about the infringements on sovereignty" that the trading system implies and warned that 20 states had signed a declaration "vowing to challenge the plan's extra-territoriality" at the International Civil Aviation Organization.

"India, for example, has very clearly indicated that if Europe proceeds it will retaliate," Tyler said.

Last month, the China Air Transport Association warned that "dozens of airlines" would be involved in another lawsuit it aimed to lodge by the end of the year.

At the Paris air show in June, China reportedly blocked an order by Hong Kong Airlines for billions of euros worth of European Airbus aircraft due to the EU carbon tax plan.

China has said it fears its aviation sector will have to pay an additional 800 million yuan (about $125 million) a year on flights originating or landing in Europe, and that the cost could be almost four times higher by 2020.

Under the scheme, airlines will be given emissions allowances based on their size and polluting record.

Initially they will only have to pay for 15 percent of the polluting rights accorded to them, the figure rising to 18 percent between 2013-2020.

If credits are not fully used, they can be traded -- which means polluters can buy extra rights, which carriers see as a tax.

EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard has said the 85 percent of allowances not initially charged will be worth 20 billion euros over the next decade.

She suggested that airlines could use the funds to modernise their fleets, improve fuel efficiency and use non-fossil aviation fuel.

Within the detail of the court's legal opinion, the advocate general underlined that the market-based levy is concerned purely with the emission of greenhouse gases, and not "fuel consumption or the persons or property on board."

"I am glad to see that the Advocate General's opinion concludes that the EU Directive is fully compatible with international law," Hedegaard said.

"The EU reaffirms its wish to engage constructively with third countries during the implementation of this legislation," she added.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com




.
.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries




.

. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



AEROSPACE
Airlines push for hassle-free flying
Rio De Janeiro (UPI) Oct 5, 2011
International airlines are pushing for hassle-free flying to recoup losses in global air travel business because of security fears and have come up with a plan that includes a high-tech "Checkpoint of the Future." The plan, however, calls for extensive profiling of passengers and setting up categories of low- and high-risk flyers among other attributes that will help airlines decide whi ... read more


AEROSPACE
Certain biofuel mandates unlikely to be met by 2022

US unlikely to hit Renewable Fuel Standard for cellulosic biofuels

Advancing next gen biofuels by turning up the heat on biomass pretreatment processes

From compost to sustainable fuels as heat loving fungi sequenced

AEROSPACE
Robots are coming to aircraft assembly

Robotic Loader System Achieves Composite Material Testing Milestone

Robonaut Wakes Up In Space

Sandia Labs' Gemini-Scout robot likely to reach trapped miners ahead of rescuers

AEROSPACE
Natural Power deploys first dual-mode ZephIR wind lidar in India

New energy in search for future wind

Investment blows into India's wind sector

Spain's Gamesa signs deal with Chinese firm

AEROSPACE
China's LiuGong to buy Polish bulldozer-maker: report

CO2 rules not driving car prices higher

Singapore to tackle jams with car ownership curbs

US auto sales steady in September

AEROSPACE
Iraq forms special committee to chase lost oil funds

Hanoi expects 'frank' S. China Sea talks

Uruguay set to become major gas exporter

Iraq battles to expand its oil exports

AEROSPACE
Pear-shaped 110-carat diamond to go under hammer

NIST polishes method for creating tiny diamond machines

Journey to the lower mantle and back

Diamonds show depth extent of Earth's carbon cycle

AEROSPACE
Emissions rising from 'carbonizing dragon'

Japan takes steps to revise energy plan

IMF, World Bank eye carbon tax on airline, ship fuels

U.S. Defense aims for clean energy

AEROSPACE
Forest structure, services and biodiversity may be lost even as form remains

USDA: Wood is greenest building material

UN urges cities to protect their trees

Bolivia Amazon natives resume protest after crackdown


.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2011 - Space Media Network. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement