| Associations - Global Air Cargo Advisory Group hits EU carbon tax, wants ICAO rules to rule |
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Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) is demanding industry and government support of the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) commitment to establish a plan to regulate global airline emissions by the end of the year. The lobby group consists of International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) and the Global Shippers' Forum (GSF). A statement from GACAG said that such commitment by the ICAO is a "vital step forwards and must be supported by the aviation industry and international governments". The group says it has been "highly critical" of the European Union's controversial Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and has consistently campaigned for multilateral efforts to develop international carbon dioxide emissions standards within ICAO. It said that such measures would begin keeping with the recommendations of the Kyoto Protocol which designated ICAO as the body with authority to set international aviation's greenhouse gas policy. Said GACAG chairman Michael Steen: "We will support ICAO in this initiative and push to ensure the deadline for the end of this year is achieved. GACAG urges the European Commission to come to the table to work with ICAO towards this global goal. "In a recent exchange of correspondence with the EU Climate Action Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, she stated that the EU was very much in favour of a global approach to aviation emissions but that its work to achieve this with ICAO was just too slow," said Mr Steen, who is also chairman of TIACA. "Ms Hedegaard also stated that the EU remained committed to fully support global action and we now expect the EU to participate with ICAO towards a sensible resolution. We hope this will also take into account the progress the aviation industry is making in terms of sustainability and the environment and its critical role in worldwide economic development," said Mr Steen. Speaking at the International Aviation Club in Washington, ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin said: "While there are clear differences among member states, we still have to come to a global solution." The statement also noted that earlier in January GACAG urged the EU to draw back from implementing the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for aviation, stating that the move would spark a divisive and ultimately costly dispute with the international community and the global aviation industry, including the air cargo sector and its customers. Source: Shipping Gazette, Feb 06, 2012 |
