UTES

MEPs adopted legislation on including aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), all flights starting and/or landing in Europe (including intercontinental flights) to be included in the ETS from 1 January 2012. The reduction target to be calculated on the basis of airlines' average annual emissions between 2004-2006: in the first period (2012), airline emissions to be cut by 3 percent based on an historic average; emissions will be reduced by 5% in 2013 compared to the historic average. The main elements of the compromise are as follows: All flights starting and/or landing in Europe (including intercontinental flights) to be included in the ETS from 1 January 2012; The EU to have an obligation to seek an agreement on global measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation. Bilateral agreements, for example with the US, could be a first step; 85 percent of the emissions certificates to be allocated for free according to a common European benchmark. 15 percent to be auctioned; The reduction target to be calculated on the basis of airlines' average annual emissions between 2004-2006: in the first period (2012), airline emissions to be cut by 3 percent; in the second, from 2013 onwards, by 5 percent. The percentage to be further modified as part of the general review of the ETS; The revenues generated from the auctioning of emissions allowances should be used to fund: climate change mitigation; research on clean aircraft; anti-deforestation measures in the developing world; low-emission transport.