Aviation Brought Into CO2 Emissions
Brussels
The European Commission has proposed that all airline companies that are operating on the European continent should pay their share for any increase in carbon emissions which rise above the current levels.
According to Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, European Union emissions from international transport are increasing faster than from any other sector.
This growth threatens to undermine the European Union’s progress in cutting overall greenhouse gas emissions.
The proposed directive will cover emissions from flights within the European Union from 2011 and all flights to and from European Union airports from 2012. Both European as well as foreign aircraft operators would be covered.
It is estimated that by 2020, CO2 savings as of as much as 46 percent, or the equivalent of 183 million tonnes, could be achieved each year.
The proposal, which needs the agreement of EU member states and the European Parliament, will be based on the average emissions between the years 2004 and 2006.
Airlines will be able to sell surplus allowances and if their emissions grow, they will be forced to buy additional permits.
While emissions from domestic flights are covered by the Kyoto Protocol targets, international aviation is not. Furthermore, jet fuel for international flights has been exempted from taxation.
Bilateral air agreements between European Union member states are now being changed in order to allow this possibility.
Emissions from aviation currently account for about three percent of total greenhouse gas emissions on the European Continent. But, they are increasing fast, 87 percent since 1990, as air travel becomes cheaper without its environmental costs being addressed.
The fast growth in aviation emissions contrasts with the success of many other sectors of the European economy in reducing emissions.
Many environmental groups said that European Commission's proposals do not go far enough.
Friend of the Earth said that the emission limits must be part of a package of measures which will include abandoning airports expansion plans as well as ending tax breaks the the airline industry enjoys.
Assuming that airlines will pass on any costs to customers, by 2020 the price of a typical return flight within the European Union could rise by between one Euro and nine Euro.
Long haul trips could increase by somewhat more depending on the exact journey length, due to their higher environmental impact.
Tighter Emission Limits For Cars
Brussels
The European Parliament has adopted a new proposal to gradually set tougher emission limits for cars, in particular Nitrogen Oxides and particles.
The new standards, also known as Euro 5 and Euro 6, will take effect beginning on September 1st, 2009, setting tighter emissions limits of particles and NOx for new cars and vans sold in the European Union market.
This makes the introduction of particle filters for diesel cars obligatory. Euro 6 will set significantly lower emissions limits for NOx emissions from diesel cars, 68% lower than today's emission limits, and will enter into force five years after Euro 5, in 2014.
Reduced emissions from road transport are seen as an important factor to improve air quality, especially because the share of diesel vehicles in the overall sales of light duty vehicles is increasing.
The Euro 5 and Euro 6 regulation is revising the current emission limits for motor vehicles as technology has improved.
Euro 5, which will enter into force on September 2009, makes the introduction obligatory of a particle filter for all diesel cars of new models. New diesel cars of an existing car model should be fitted with a particle filter as of January 2011. Euro 6 will enter into force in 2014.
In terms of benefits, the Euro 6 stage will result in an increase in the health benefits by approximately 60 to 90 percent, relative to Euro 5.
Environmental groups, as well as many members of the European Parliament, reacted angrily to a decision by the members of the European Parliament to exempt SUVs from tougher rules on emissions.
They complained that the gradual implementation of the new rules was in favor of the industry, as much of the technology needed to reduce emissions was already available.
SUVs will not have to meet new standards until September 1st, 2012.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see;
Brussels backs down on break-up of energy giants
http://euobserver.com/9/23151/?rk=1
Biofuels Republic Brazil
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/BiofuelRepublicBrazil.php
Wupertal Institut http://www.wupperinst.org
ACHATS PUBLICS : VERS UN ETAT PLUS RESPONSABLE
http://www.novethic.fr/novethic/site/article/index.jsp?id=105776
Bio Gems: Saving Endangered Wild Places http://www.savebiogems.org
NOVICA: What the World Creates by Hand http://www.novica.com
Brussels
The European Commission has proposed that all airline companies that are operating on the European continent should pay their share for any increase in carbon emissions which rise above the current levels.
According to Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, European Union emissions from international transport are increasing faster than from any other sector.
This growth threatens to undermine the European Union’s progress in cutting overall greenhouse gas emissions.
The proposed directive will cover emissions from flights within the European Union from 2011 and all flights to and from European Union airports from 2012. Both European as well as foreign aircraft operators would be covered.
It is estimated that by 2020, CO2 savings as of as much as 46 percent, or the equivalent of 183 million tonnes, could be achieved each year.
The proposal, which needs the agreement of EU member states and the European Parliament, will be based on the average emissions between the years 2004 and 2006.
Airlines will be able to sell surplus allowances and if their emissions grow, they will be forced to buy additional permits.
While emissions from domestic flights are covered by the Kyoto Protocol targets, international aviation is not. Furthermore, jet fuel for international flights has been exempted from taxation.
Bilateral air agreements between European Union member states are now being changed in order to allow this possibility.
Emissions from aviation currently account for about three percent of total greenhouse gas emissions on the European Continent. But, they are increasing fast, 87 percent since 1990, as air travel becomes cheaper without its environmental costs being addressed.
The fast growth in aviation emissions contrasts with the success of many other sectors of the European economy in reducing emissions.
Many environmental groups said that European Commission's proposals do not go far enough.
Friend of the Earth said that the emission limits must be part of a package of measures which will include abandoning airports expansion plans as well as ending tax breaks the the airline industry enjoys.
Assuming that airlines will pass on any costs to customers, by 2020 the price of a typical return flight within the European Union could rise by between one Euro and nine Euro.
Long haul trips could increase by somewhat more depending on the exact journey length, due to their higher environmental impact.
Tighter Emission Limits For Cars
Brussels
The European Parliament has adopted a new proposal to gradually set tougher emission limits for cars, in particular Nitrogen Oxides and particles.
The new standards, also known as Euro 5 and Euro 6, will take effect beginning on September 1st, 2009, setting tighter emissions limits of particles and NOx for new cars and vans sold in the European Union market.
This makes the introduction of particle filters for diesel cars obligatory. Euro 6 will set significantly lower emissions limits for NOx emissions from diesel cars, 68% lower than today's emission limits, and will enter into force five years after Euro 5, in 2014.
Reduced emissions from road transport are seen as an important factor to improve air quality, especially because the share of diesel vehicles in the overall sales of light duty vehicles is increasing.
The Euro 5 and Euro 6 regulation is revising the current emission limits for motor vehicles as technology has improved.
Euro 5, which will enter into force on September 2009, makes the introduction obligatory of a particle filter for all diesel cars of new models. New diesel cars of an existing car model should be fitted with a particle filter as of January 2011. Euro 6 will enter into force in 2014.
In terms of benefits, the Euro 6 stage will result in an increase in the health benefits by approximately 60 to 90 percent, relative to Euro 5.
Environmental groups, as well as many members of the European Parliament, reacted angrily to a decision by the members of the European Parliament to exempt SUVs from tougher rules on emissions.
They complained that the gradual implementation of the new rules was in favor of the industry, as much of the technology needed to reduce emissions was already available.
SUVs will not have to meet new standards until September 1st, 2012.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
Please also see;
Brussels backs down on break-up of energy giants
http://euobserver.com/9/23151/?rk=1
Biofuels Republic Brazil
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/BiofuelRepublicBrazil.php
Wupertal Institut http://www.wupperinst.org
ACHATS PUBLICS : VERS UN ETAT PLUS RESPONSABLE
http://www.novethic.fr/novethic/site/article/index.jsp?id=105776
Bio Gems: Saving Endangered Wild Places http://www.savebiogems.org
NOVICA: What the World Creates by Hand http://www.novica.com