AIR TRANSPORT : ETS: EU SEEKS BINDING GLOBAL MECHANISM.

Under what conditions could a global system for the reduction of CO2 emissions from the aviation sector replace existing EU legislation, the target of virulent criticism by non-EU countries? The European Commission has said several times in the last few days that it would be willing to review the inclusion of aviation in the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) if a global system were in place. At a conference by environmental NGOs, on 8 February, Jos Delbeke, director-general of the Commission's DG Climate, said such a system would have to deliver more CO2 emissions reductions than the current EU system. It would also have to be non-discriminatory and not include emissions reduction targets alone, but also binding measures for achieving them. The EU will only consider amending its legislation if the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) makes significant...