Transport and climate change

Reducing greenhouse emissions from aviation

Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions at a time when most other sectors have been reducing emissions. For this reason, the European Commission proposed legislation to include aviation in the EU's emissions trading scheme (ETS). This will help check the growth in emissions from aviation by placing a cap on them, which means airlines have an incentive to invest in ways to reduce their emissions. In order for the scheme to function effectively, the caps must be in line with emissions reductions targets. The European Parliament had co-decision powers in the final legislation. The EP environment committee had voted to cap airlines' emissions at 75% of their 2004-6 levels, which would have been largely consistent with EU emissions reductions targets. However, in the final vote, a majority of MEPs rejected this position. In the final legislation, airlines' emissions would be capped at a mere 97% of their 2004-6 levels initially with this being reduced to a mere 95% in 2013.

See the list of how all MEPs voted on Amendment 24 to the Liese report (13th November 2007)