Press release
23 February 2009
Ministry of the Environment
Government proposes including aviation activities in Emissions Trading Scheme
The Government decided today to present a proposal entitled Aviation and the Emissions Trading System to the Council on Legislation. The intention is to include aviation activities in the Emissions Trading Scheme as of 2012.
"Air transport needs to bear its own environmental costs just like other modes of transport. Including aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme is an important step towards making the polluter pay. It will spur the development of new technology and fuels necessary to ensure that future air transport adapts to climate and environmental conditions," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren.
The trading scheme will apply to flights to and from airports on European Union territory. Airlines will be required to monitor carbon dioxide emissions from flights that come under the trading scheme. Airlines will also be required to report on an annual basis the emission allowances that cover their actual emissions. The airlines covered by the scheme must also draw up a plan for the measures to be taken to monitor and report emissions. Emissions monitoring will begin in 2010.
Emission allowances will be allocated both free of charge -upon receipt of an application for an allocation of allowances - and by auction. According to European Commission estimates, ticket prices will increase by between EUR 4.60 and EUR 39.60.
Certain airlines with limited operations in the EU and sport aviation activities are not affected by the proposal.
The background to the proposal submitted to the Council on Legislation is an EU directive (Directive 2008/101/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community). In the negotiations on the directive, Sweden pressed for an early inclusion of aviation activities in the Emissions Trading Scheme, a low emission ceiling and full auctioning of emission allowances.
Contact
Mattias JohanssonPress Secretary to Andreas Carlgren
Karin Sparrman
Desk Officer
+46 405 38 11
