Just as the introduction of low cost airlines to Malta is being hailed as an elixir for the country’s tourism ailments and its residents’ connectivity to the rest of Europe, a new controversy over such airlines’ toll on the environment is emerging.
The context is a new EU measure aimed at cutting airline emissions by including airlines in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The European Commission has proposed that emissions from all flights between EU airports be included in the (ETS) by 2011, while the scheme would be extended to all international flights departing from or landing at an EU airport by the following year.
As proposed by the EC, the ETS would issue airlines with permits to emit pollution based on their average emissions between 2004 and 2006. Any airline that reduces emissions would be able to sell its remaining allowance while others would be forced to buy an additional quota.
The airline industry however is strongly opposing its inclusion in the ETS and foremost among the opponents is Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, who this week became embroiled in a war of words with the British environment minister after he unleashed a scathing attack in an interview against Ryanair, British Airways and the American airline industry for their opposition to the EC proposals.
“When it comes to climate change, Ryanair are not just the unacceptable face of capitalism, they are the irresponsible face of capitalism. O’Leary just seems to take pride in refusing to recognise that climate change is a genuine problem,” British environment minister Ian Pearson is quoted as saying.
O’Leary, however, is clearly not one to take such comments lying down. He countered, “We have a minister who couldn’t get any publicity any other way. It’s complete rubbish. This is just a way for politicians to get cheap headlines and extort more taxes from the ordinary men and women who are going on holiday.
“Aviation is neither the cause of global warming, nor is it the solution. Let’s tackle the real causes – road transport and power generation. Let’s not spend time listening to idiot ministers. Clearly he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
Air travel is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions and it is estimated that by 2050, unless measures are taken, aviation will account for all the available ETS carbon permits.
Mr O’Leary, in November, also rubbished an alarming report drawn up by World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern on the economics of climate change, saying that “a lot of lies and misinformation has been put about by eco nuts on the back of a report by an idiot economist” and speculated that shooting the world’s cow population would do more to combat global warming than eliminating low-cost air travel.
But following his comments, Mr Pearson was reprimanded by environment secretary David Miliband and relieved of his responsibility for negotiating with the airline industry.
Ryanair also insisted its new, fuel-efficient planes produce 50 per cent less emissions and 45 per cent less fuel burn per seat than older, long haul fleets. The airline added that it is Europe’s greenest.
The ETS, which has so far exempted airlines, set targets for the carbon dioxide emissions of producers of power, cement, fuels, pulp and paper. Companies purchase allocations, or credits, if they exceed those targets.
Through proposed the airline scheme, the Commission estimates CO2 savings of some 183 million tonnes per year, or the equivalent of double Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.
“Aviation too should make a fair contribution to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas commented when launching the proposals recently.
“Bringing aviation emissions into the EU emissions trading scheme is a cost-effective solution that is good for the environment and treats all airlines equally.”