“Tougher and sooner” - easyJet calls on MEPs to get tough with the Commission over Emissions Trading

Today the EU is expected to publish a legislative proposal on including aviation in the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme.

Andy Harrison, easyJet Chief Executive, gives the following comments:

“I never thought I would see the day when easyJet calls for tougher legislation to be brought in sooner! But that’s exactly what we’re doing with this piece of legislation.

“Aviation CO2 emissions currently account for only 1.6%* of Global Greenhouse gases and we welcome the fact that aviation will soon have a market mechanism to pay for its environmental impact.

“An emissions trading scheme is the right way for aviation to balance its huge economic and social benefits with its environmental impact – rather than national Governments imposing ineffective, inefficient taxes, such as UK Air Passenger Duty, to give the impression they are doing something.

“But the scheme should be all or nothing from day one – there is no middle ground. Adopting a scheme for intra-EU flights will take in only 20%** of Europe’s aviation emissions and many airlines will be let off the hook entirely. The Commission’s decision to omit 80% of Europe’s aviation emissions from the initial scheme smacks of political compromise rather than a desire to protect the environment.

“We call upon Members of the European Parliament and national governments to reject anything less than an unconditional full scheme covering all flights in and out of the EU and to bring in legislation that is tougher – and to bring it in sooner.”