The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) joined in the chorus of carrier associations condemning a recent decision by the European Parliament to include aviation in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
“European legislators have again overreached their authority by seeking to impose this scheme on international airlines operating outside European airspace,” said Andrew Herdsman, director general of the AAPA.
His comments come on the heels of harsh condemnation from Giovanni Bisignani, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Bisignani had earlier said that Europe’s unilateral and extra-territorial approach would apply ETS to all aircraft flying to or from Europe and that without international agreement this would spark international legal battles.
“What right does Europe have to impose ETS charges on, for example, an Australian carrier flying from Asia to Europe for emissions over the Middle East?” Bisignani asked.
Herdsman similarly lashed out at the decision saying: “One of the most offensive aspects of the scheme is that Europe is, in effect, appointing itself as tax collector-in-chief for international aviation.
“Like a number of other purported green taxes and levies, there is absolutely no assurance that such funds will be directed towards meeting genuine environmental objectives,” Herdsmansaid.
Herdsman added that aviation was”more than willing” to play its part in contributing to wider efforts to address climate change.
“We support emissions trading, but asfar as international aviation is concerned, we need a consensus on a globally harmonised solution.
“Consistent with Article 2 of the Kyoto Protocol, ICAO is the only forumin which all 190 States can reach suchan agreement. We look to the recently formed ICAO Group on International Aviation and Climate Change (GIACC),which includes representatives from Europe, as the key to resolving the current political impasse, and urge them to make every effort to move the international debate forward.”