The EU’s commitment to taking serious action on aviation emissions has been courting controversy of late due to its proposed inclusion of the international transport sector in the EU ETS. From 2012 all arriving and departing flights in the EU will have to be covered by corresponding emissions allowances (EUAs). Regulating flight operators will be entrusted [...]

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has challenged governments worldwide to take four key steps to support the global aviation sector’s commitment to tackle climate change. Speaking in Hong Kong yesterday, Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO, stressed the need to: 1. Adopt challenging industry targets to stabilise and eventually reduce aviation’s carbon emissions; [...]

The second two-week round of UN-led climate talks, held in Bonn, met with some critical feedback, though there were notable highlights in the dialogue.  One such highlight was the pitch four of the world’s largest air carriers made for a worldwide emissions limit for all airlines as part of the deal to be reached in [...]

Transport Ministers from 21 major countries met in Tokyo last week to discuss the establishment of a global trading scheme for emissions from aviation. The ministers expressed their support for the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) efforts to take action on the growing contribution of the airline industry to the stock of greenhouse gases in [...]

Plans for a third runway at Heathrow got the go-ahead from the transport secretary, Geoff Hoon today, despite the barrage of opposition on environmental grounds from environmentalists, scientists, MPs, celebrities and local residents. At full capacity, an expanded Heathrow (expected by 2020) would become the biggest single source of C02 emissions in the country; emitting [...]