TIACA welcomes EU's decision to defer to UN on aviation carbon tax

THE International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) welcomed the suspension of the European aviation carbon tax by EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard and her decision to leave the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to develop a global carbon emissions tax.

This is "a very welcome and pragmatic move and a strong signal that the commission is intent on working with international partners to achieve a global agreement on reducing aviation CO2 emissions," said TIACA chairman Michael Steen.

The EU's decision reflects the growing recognition by governments, global and regional regulators and industry of the importance of collaboration on key issues such as security and the environment without regional discrimination, Mr Steen added in a company statement.

TIACA's view has always been that the EU should work with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to realise sustainable aviation initiatives. The Kyoto Protocol designated ICAO as the body with authority to set international aviation's greenhouse gas policy.

The association's view is shared by its fellow members of the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG), which described ICAO's commitment to produce a proposal to regulate global airline emissions as "a vital step forward that must be supported by the aviation industry and international governments."

Said Ms Hedegaard: "The EU is very much in favour of a global approach to aviation emissions and has been working in ICAO to achieve this for many years We remain committed to fully support global action so as to limit aviation's climate change impacts and developing our economies sustainably. We are willing to work with TIACA and others to this end."