Ministers Voice Concern over European 2050 Emissions Goals - ICTSD International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development

Posted - 27th June 2011 ICTSD

EU transport ministers have warned the European Commission that the proposed objective to cut transport emissions 60 percent by 2050 would put European companies at a competitive disadvantage to Asian and American firms. This cautionary message on taking unilateral action with the emissions trading system (ETS) runs alongside intensifying pressure from the US, China, and now Russia to scale back carbon taxes on aviation.
“In order to maintain the Union’s competitiveness, similar commitments should be sought at international level,” transport ministers proclaimed at a meeting in Luxembourg on 16 June.
The proposed ETS reforms will oblige all airlines to pay to offset any emissions that exceed “free allowances” allocated them by the EU (See Bridges Trade BioRes, 13 June 2011). A separate legislative act will increase the Eurovignette road haulage tax to include additional charges for polluters.
These revisions have incited concern internally from Eastern European states over the wide disparities in transport infrastructure throughout Europe and how it could be harmful for domestic industries under a blanket European transport emissions tax.
Other EU countries expressed doubts that 60 percent reduction targets would be possible without an upheaval of the transport sector and its reliance on fossil fuels. “Today there are no alternative to fossil fuels competitive in terms of technology and price,” admitted transport ministers.

Complete Story at:
http://ictsd.org/i/news/biores/109559/