Archived press release

FOE Backs Brussels plan for a levy on aircraft emissions

1 December 1999

The European Commission says that the current duty exemption on aviation fuel enjoyed by the airlines costs EU Governments nearly £7 billion per year. The fuel tax exemption partly explains the rapid and unsustainable growth rates in air travel. In a Communication on “Air Transport and the Environment”, released today, the Commission proposes a levy to cut aviation emissions based on the distance flown by airlines [1].

The Commissions proposal is in response to the failure of Governments to agree ways of cutting aircraft emissions, which are the fastest growing cause of the gases causing dangerous climate change. International aircraft emissions were excluded from the commitments agreed by Governments under the Kyoto protocol and talks about a global agreement to cut aircraft emissions have bogged down [2].

Simon McRae, Friends of the Earth's Aviation Campaigner, said;
“Air travel is already the world's fastest growing source of greenhouse gases but,unlike other transport users such as train operators or motorists, airlines pay no pollution taxes. The UK Government must support the introduction of an European wide emissions levy as a priority to reduce aircraft emissions.

The Communication also supports tougher standards for aircraft noise and aircraft emissions. Furthermore it proposes that Governments agree to a set of rules and measures for assessing airports impacts. These would include an agreed method for calculating airport noise exposure, airport noise monitoring and land use criteria for assessing if airports should receive financial support from the EU.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The European Commission's 'Communication on Air Transport and the Environment'was released today. Copies of the Communication are available at the Commissions website on http://www.europa.eu.int

2. The Kyoto Protocol did not include emissions from international flights because Governments could not agree who should take responsibility for the emissions. As a result, emissions from international flights are not included in the cuts in greenhouse emissions the Governments agreed to make.

Since then, Governments have been talking about allocating international emissions as part of wider discussions on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, but no progress has been made. Governments have also discussed charges and levies through the forum of the International Civil Aviation Organisation,but no decisions are expected on this for another two years at least.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust