EC delays airline emissions cap announcement

The European Commission will not announce a 2012 emissions cap for flights into and out of the EU in August because it needs more time to make sure the data behind its calculations are accurate, a spokeswoman said on Monday.

Under a directive on including aviation in the EU's emissions trading scheme (ETS), airline emissions must be capped at 97% of average 2004-06 levels in 2012. The commission will now announce the emissions cap this autumn, the spokeswoman told ENDS.

Market analyst Point Carbon believes the EU executive will cap airline emissions at 218 million tonnes in 2012 (EE 22/07/09). The Association of European Airlines (AEA) predicts a slightly tougher cap (EE 15/07/09). The cap will be brought down to 95% of average 2004-06 levels after 2012.

The publication of a list setting out how revenues from the scheme will be divided among EU states has also been delayed. The preliminary list published in February (EE 12/02/09) was due to be finalised in early August. But the commission is still waiting for data from some member states such as the UK.

• Climate
• Trade
• Transport
• Economic instruments