14 November 2006 - Euro-MPs in Strasbourg have adopted proposals for a new EU Air Traffic Control system to combat flying’s growing contribution to climate change.

Speaking after today’s vote in the European Parliament on a new air traffic management system for Europe (SESAR), Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas welcomed the decision.

“Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, with flights set to double by 2020,” she said.

“Equipping air traffic management systems to play a role in reducing the climate damage of airlines is an important concrete step in combating climate change and we welcome today’s EU vote, which supported Green proposals to this end.”

The South-East England MEP, who is also the European Parliament’s rapporteur on climate change and aviation, added: “Under the proposals adopted by MEPs, SESAR would be given competences in the area of speed control to reduce fuel consumption and, consequently, emissions.

“In addition, SESAR would also integrate cooperation with meteorological services to limit the overall climate impact of airlines: this would include using meteorological forecasts to help select flight paths that would limit the extent of vapour contrails.”

“However much airlines try to play down the size of aviation emissions as a proportion of the global total, the fact is they are growing exponentially and severely undermining progress made in other sectors. The EU needs to do all it can to address this.   

“ Air traffic management clearly has an important role to play in this regard, so today’s vote is to be welcomed. However this in no way removes the need for tough additional measures, including introducing a separate emissions trading scheme (with rigorous caps) and a kerosene tax. The EU must do all within its power combat the climate threat of aviation."

ENDS

 
Notes to Editors

The impact from aviation on climate change is far from confined to its growing CO2-emissions. Pollution of the highly sensitive stratosphere contributes considerably to the destruction of the ozone layer. The damage caused by H2O or vapour contrails (such as building artificial cirrus clouds) is affected by prevalent meteorological conditions.