- IATA criticised the EU Commission’s planned revision extending the EU ETS to flights beyond the EU.
- Marie Owens Thomsen questioned why the EU is going “back to the future” on the extension.
- The revision recalls the 2008-2012 attempt abandoned for a global approach.
- IATA called for a harmonised approach to reach CO2 goals.
- IATA represents over 370 airlines accounting for 85pc of global traffic.
IATA has criticised the EU Commission’s planned revision of the European Emissions Trading System, which would extend the ETS to apply to flights up to 5,000km beyond the EU. Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Senior Vice President Sustainability and Economics and Chief Economist, questioned why the EU is going “back to the future” on extending the EU ETS. She stated fragmentation, duplication, and the constant moving of goalposts will not achieve CO2 reduction goals.
IATA represents over 370 airlines accounting for some 85pc of global air traffic. The revision recalls the EU’s first attempt to extend its ETS in 2008-2012, which was abandoned in favour of supporting a global approach. Owens Thomsen stated the goals that everybody is working towards are to deliver as much CO2 emissions reduction as possible, as fast as possible, and at the lowest possible cost.
The EU Commission announced the revision on 17 July. IATA called for a global, harmonised approach for air transport to reach its CO2 goals. Owens Thomsen stated the EU, given its benefits from forming the union and harmonising rules, should know that fragmentation will not achieve those goals.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Senior VP Sustainability, shared, “Fragmentation, duplication, and the constant moving of goalposts will not achieve those goals.”
