EU ministers set to agree cut in aviation emissions

European environment ministers are set to agree a cut in the carbon emissions from flying, the Guardian has learned.

In Brussels today representatives of the 27 states of the European Union are expected to agree on a 10 per cent cut for aviation by 2020, relative to 2005, as part of its negotiating position at the upcoming UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen.

Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases, but politicians have been reluctant to act, as the number of passengers and flights is rising sharply. But earlier this year Ed Miliband, energy and climate change secretary, said that the UK would return emissions to 2005 levels by 2050. "I don't want to have a situation where only rich people can afford to fly," he said.

Quentin Browell, of the International Air Transport Association, questioned whether the 10 per cent cut was achievable. "We're looking at 1.5 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency each year, the vast majority from new planes joining the fleet. The 10 per cent does not look realistic."

On another issue, EU finance ministers failed to agree on the funding it will give the developing world to cope with global warming, a setback for the deal negotiators hope to deliver in Copenhagen.

A call from the chancellor, Alistair Darling, for the EU to commit to €10bn, of which Britain would contribute €1bn, went unheeded. The European Commission has proposed €15bn a year by 2020. The European parliament's environment committee this week put the figure at €30bn, but environmental lobby groups talk of €35bn.

"It's a disappointing outcome," admitted Anders Borg, the Swedish finance minister, who chaired the meeting. "There's obviously been a lack of commitment. "

With fewer than 50 days to the Copenhagen summit, differences between states over how to split the bill wrecked preparation of such a deal at its last attempt, before an EU summit in Brussels next week.

The argument is between richer west Europeans and the poorer, newer member states from central and eastern Europe who are seeking to minimise their share of the overall bill. Eliot Whittington, at Christian Aid, said: "There is only one week of formal negotiations left before Copenhagen. Brinksmanship of this nature is a betrayal of millions of poor people."

This article first appeared on the Guardian

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