Aviation inclusion in emissions scheme is formally agreed

European Union governments have formally approved an earlier decision to include aviation in the EU Emission Trading Scheme from 2012.

A spokesperson confirmed that the process, which has been building for several months, and agreed in principle earlier this year, was officially passed today by the European Council. "Because it is a commission decision, first parliament votes and then council and parliament discuss and then the council finally adopts it, which is what happened today," said the spokesperson.

The European Parliament and the Commission have been at loggerheads over how to implement the scheme, with the Parliament proposing a start date of 2011 and lawmakers at the Commission arguing that airlines should only be included in the scheme from 2012. However, the Parliament confirmed in June that a compromise has been reached that will see the changes take effect from 2012.

Under the new proposals, airlines will be obliged to buy 15 per cent of their required carbon allowances at auction, while emissions caps will initially be set at three per cent below 2004-06 levels, rising to five per cent for the period from 2013.

The aviation industry remains firmly opposed to its inclusion in the scheme and believes the EU should instead focus on improving air traffic control regimes to shorten flight journeys and increase support for research and development into more fuel-efficient aircraft.