Brussels, Belgium – 13 November 2012 – The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is optimistic about the EU Climate Action Commissioner’s announcement that the application of the region's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to flights to and from the EU has been suspended. This move at least demonstrates the Commission's willingness to support the drafting of a global framework tackling CO2 emissions. It shows that Brussels has been listening to members of the business aviation community, alongside representatives from the global aviation industry, who have long argued that a comprehensive market-based mechanism (MBM) adopted worldwide would be much more meaningful against climate change.
"This decision will empower MBM negotiations as they advance. We are pleased that the Commission recognises the effectiveness of multilateral solutions over unilateral decisions," says Fabio Gamba, EBAA CEO, "and we only regret that this reasoning did not lead to the application of the same measure to intra-EU flights. A worldwide MBM would, after all apply universally. It remains to be seen how this change will affect smaller European operators who bear the brunt of administrative costs, as these will again augment considerably. In any case, as ICAO assembles a high level policy group to work on this important issue, EBAA, together with members of the global business aviation community, looks forward to contributing to the ultimate proposal."
