ETS under press

 

Aviation emissions deal in doubt despite EU offer
The European Union's legislation to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from air transport will be severely tested next week when the member countries of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meet in Montreal.

The EU's decision to extend its emissions trading scheme (ETS) to aviation - agreed in 2008 - will come under fierce criticism.

Ten months ago, in the face of complaints from many countries outside the EU, particularly China, India and the United States, the European Commission froze - for flights beginning or ending outside EU airspace - the requirement that airlines should pay for their emissions. The Commission said that it was giving ICAO time to come up with a global deal.