The European Union (EU) is calling for both airlines and shipping to be included in a planned successor to the Kyoto Protocol along with worldwide support to fight climate change in preparation for international talks to take place next December in Copenhagen.
The United Nation's aviation agency is fast at work on the framework for a global emissions-trading plan even as regional and national emissions plans are also being developed. Emissions from international aviation fall outside reduction commitments of the Kyoto Protocol but will be part of a larger U.N climate pact. Airlines contribute approximately two percent of global CO2 emissions, but the growing demand for air travel means that number is expected to rise. The U.N. estimates that shipping contributes about three percent of global CO2 emissions. The EU has committed to a 30 percent reduction in emission s compared to 1990 levels by 2020.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement, part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which sets targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on December 11, 1997. Under the treaty, countries that have emission units to spare can sell their excess capacity to countries that are over their limits. Former U.S. President George W. Bush infuriated environmentalists by deciding not to adopt the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, but the EU is optimistic that President Barack Obama will be receptive to its climate plans, as he has already pledged significant emissions cuts in the U.S.
Last year the EU agreed to make airlines pay for permits to pollute under its flagship emissions trading scheme. The Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines, which represents 17 carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Quantas, backs emissions trading but only if there is a global program that applies to all airlines. The association feels the EU plan is unfair because all airlines that fly in and out of EU airports will be included, meaning Asian carriers using European airspace will have to pay based on pollution emitted throughout the entire flight; for example a Quantas flight from Sydney to Paris.
The EU has already prepared unilateral action to deal with shipping emissions if its push for a global deal fails. The International Chamber of Shipping supports the measures to curb shipping emissions although it felt that governments would be unwise to commit to specific amounts because if the population and economy continue to grow, the need for shipping will expand as well.
Currently the EU is drafting a plan to reduce global emissions from both international aviation and shipping to be included in the planned successor to the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012. COP15, the United National Framework for Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) will be held for two weeks in Demark from November 30 to December 11, 2009.
This is the last time that the UNFCCC will meet at the government level before a new climate agreement to prevent global warming and other climate changes will be established. It is anticipated that officials from approximately 170 countries will take part in the conference.
This coming May, the World Business Summit on Climate Change will gather global business leaders in advance of the Copenhagen conference to discuss new business strategies with leading governments and experts. Issues to be discussed include policies, business strategies, and public-private partnerships necessary to effectively boost investment, innovation, and technology development and action to combat climate change.
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