Airlines Favour Wrong Choice to Reduce Emissions

Airlines Favour Wrong Choice to Reduce Emissions

3 June 2013, Brussels - Today, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) acknowledged the need for market-based measures to reduce the aviation sector's contribution to climate change. This should be considered as part of a broader package of measures, including improvements in technology, operations and infrastructure[1].

However, the airlines highlighted their preferences over a global carbon offsetting scheme compared to alternative schemes, such as cap-and-trade schemes.

Carbon Market Watch Director Eva Filzmoser commented “Today’s IATA Resolution is a welcome step towards regulating airlines’ contribution to climate change. However, a global carbon offsetting scheme is the wrong choice because it does not lead to emissions reductions in the aviation sector itself. It merely compensates these emissions through investment in reduction projects elsewhere. Only a cap-and-trade scheme with a stringent cap and a limit on the use of offsets will create sufficient incentives for essential emission reductions in the aviation sector itself.”

The Resolution adopted today calls on the world’s governments to agree at this year’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly to a global carbon offsetting scheme to take effect in 2020.

ENDS

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