Copenhagen – What about ships and planes?

Twelve years ago when the Kyoto Protocol was signed and sealed, two global industries – aviation and shipping – were excluded from the treaty. It was argued that the nature of these sectors meant it was too difficult to assign particular emissions to particular countries. Instead, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) were tasked with providing a solution.

In the years since, emissions from these industries have more than doubled so that together they now emit more each year than Germany. Emissions are also growing so fast that they are projected to double or even triple again by 2050, which would swallow up much of the world’s permitted carbon budget.

The IMO and ICAO have not passed a single binding rule since Kyoto and ending the special treatment is a goal at Copenhagen. Indeed, the refrain often heard from Government ministers as they sought to defend the third runway at Heathrow is that the better option was to push for a strong “global deal” on emissions.

So with the last round of talks before Copenhagen now over, what is the likely solution for emissions from ships and planes? The suggestions generally revolve around the introduction of a global ‘cap and trade’ scheme for aviation, and a levy on international shipping.

Left Foot Forward looks at the main ideas being considered:

Aviation and shipping (known as ‘bunkers’ in this arena) have long been considered ‘peripheral’ issues in UN climate talks. However, the capacity for emission-cutting measures to raise funds for adaptation and low-carbon development in the poorest countries has thrust ‘bunkers’ right up the agenda.

France, Germany and the UK are now said to be getting enthusiastic since internal analysis by the European Commission suggested that €25 billion euros a year could be raised from these sectors with negligible impact on the cost of individual air tickets. Raising funds this way would be a predictable and long-term solution and would go some way towards solving the finance question, which is critical to unblocking the negotiations. Sadly though, nothing currently on the table reflects the scientific imperative to reduce emissions from these areas. This only underlines the case for national measures like limiting airport expansion.