European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

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Latest EU-ETS News

Aviation Groups Thank Clinton, LaHood for Strong Opposition to EU-ETS

January 27, 2012

NBAA is applauding a strongly-worded letter from two high-ranking U.S. government officials to European Union President Jose Manuel Barroso, warning that Washington will take "appropriate action" if the EU continues demanding that aircraft flagged in the U.S. participate in EU-ETS. Review the NBAA press release.

As New Year Begins, Industry Confronts EU-ETS

January 11, 2012

The implementation of the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) on air travel to, from and within its collective borders earlier this month came with not a loud protest, but with concerns being raised among operators in several corners worldwide, along with more threats of retaliation from several countries. "We are contemplating a wide range of possible steps that we could take, or actions that we might take," Reuters quoted a senior Obama administration official as saying in early January. For more about the status of the EU-ETS, and what the situation means for NBAA Member Companies, review the latest EU-ETS update from NBAA.

In 2011, No Clear Resolution on EU-ETS

January 2, 2012

With the advent of 2012 comes Europe's implementation of one of the most controversial programs in the history of civil aviation. In an attempt to curb generation of greenhouse gases, the European Union put into effect its Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) on New Year's Day. Learn more.

Report: EU-ETS Will Be Costly, Have Minimal Emissions Impact

December 2, 2011

In a November 17 report to investors, Swiss bank UBS tallied the cost to the European Union of implementing a proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) at $280 billion, while producing "almost zero impact" on decreasing carbon emissions. Worldwide opposition to the emissions schemes has continued to grow over the past month, with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) urging the EU to omit air operators not flagged in EU member states from required ETS compliance and concerns being expressed by both the U.S. and China. Business aviation groups have repeatedly opposed the EU-ETS, in part because any new global aviation standards should be decided by ICAO. Read more about the UBS report.

Concerns Grow As EU-ETS Start Date Nears

November 23, 2011

With just a month left before the scheduled implementation of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS), tensions between the European Community and the rest of the world are on the rise. Several countries continue sounding alarm over the proposal, while EU officials seem steadfast in their plan to charge a carbon tax on aircraft operators starting January 1, 2012. Learn more.

Conflict Grows Over EU-ETS

November 4, 2011

One November 2, the world moved closer last week to a confrontation over the European Union's proposed EU-ETS, a plan to charge civil aviation operators for carbon emissions from their aircraft. The International Civil Aviation Organization adopted a working paper put forth by the U.S., China and two dozen other nations that signed onto the "New Delhi Joint Declaration" - an international rejection of the EU's unilateral plan. Learn what the most recent developments mean for the business aviation community. Learn more.

EU-ETS News Archives

October 31, 2011
Opposition Rising to European Emissions Trading Scheme
October 25, 2011
NBAA: U.S. House Soundly Rejects European Emissions Trading Scheme
September 12, 2011
NBAA Applauds House Committee for Bill Prohibiting EU-ETS in U.S.
August 29, 2011
As EU Considers Increased C02 Limits for Some in ETS, Privacy Concerns Emerge
August 19, 2011
UK Considering Public Release of EU-ETS Information
July 21, 2011
NBAA Praises Bipartisan House Bill Opposing EU-ETS
July 8, 2011
Industry Analyst: EU-ETS May Dampen Business Aviation Recovery
February 10, 2011
Eurocontrol to Launch ETS Support Facility Mid-February
January 10, 2011
What’s the Outlook for EU-ETS in 2011?
August 9, 2010
EUROCONTROL Releases Small Emitters' Tool for ETS Compliance
February 18, 2010
European Emissions Trading Scheme Now Includes Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein

What's Involved in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme and What it Means For NBAA Members

As is widely known in the business aviation community, general aviation aircraft account for 0.6 percent of U.S. transportation carbon emissions and 0.2 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. The industry's continually improving record is thanks to an ongoing focus on the development of engines, aircraft and operating procedures that reduce emissions.

While the industry's record of continuing progress on carbon emissions is laudable, policymakers in the U.S. and around the world continue to closely examine aviation emissions as part of an overall review of all carbon emissions from transportation. This ongoing scrutiny has been prompted and sustained by repeated calls for limitations or reductions in carbon emissions.

Since its formation, the European Union (EU) has been considering options for an environmental program applicable to aviation. EU policymakers have settled on and are moving toward implantation of a plan for aviation known as the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The ETS would incorporate all flights by eligible aircraft arriving at or departing from EU airports in the EU ETS. Operator of fixed or rotary-wing aircraft over 5,700 kg (12,566 pounds) who fly to, from or within EU countries (or their territorial possessions) will be included in the EU ETS starting in 2012 (with compliance requirements that must be met prior to the 2012 date). There is an exemption for commerical aircraft operations which have fewer than 243 flights per period for three consecutive four-month periods or commercial aircraft flights with total annual emissions lower than 10,000 metric tons per year.

NBAA believes that environmental stewardship is an imperative, but also that reasonable and balanced policies should be pursued that support the industry’s twin goals of promoting the mobility and growth of business aviation while minimizing its environmental footprint. The Association has worked diligently with the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and European regulators to help shape the rules to make them as workable as possible for business aviation, and the modifications European regulators have made to their original ETS proposal reflect the advocacy efforts from the industry.

While NBAA, EBAA, IBAC and others in the industry will continue to advocate for business aviation on ETS and other emissions policies, the expectation is that the EU's ETS program could apply to all NBAA Members conducting flights into Europe by 2012 unless the ETS is superseded by U.S. regulation (the new Administration and Congress have begun consideration of a U.S. program that may apply to aviation operations, and could impact the application of the EU's ETS on flights by U.S.-based NBAA Members into the EU). Should the European community find such a law a suitable alternative to the EU ETS for U.S. operators, those operators might not need to comply with the EU ETS. However, until that declaration has been made, operators should expect to comply with the EU requirements.