MEP backs calls for air traffic control system to combat climate change
14 November 2006
Speaking after today's vote in the European Parliament on a new air trafficmanagement system for Europe (SESAR), Green Party MEP Caroline Lucaswelcomed the vote.
"Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, withflights set to double by 2020," she said.
"Equipping air traffic management systems to play a role in reducing theclimate damage of airlines is an important concrete step in combatingclimate change and we welcome today's EU vote, which supported Greenproposals to this end."
The South-East England MEP, who is also the European Parliament's rapporteuron climate change and aviation, added: "Under the proposals adopted by MEPs,SESAR would be given competences in the area of speed control to reduce fuelconsumption and, consequently, emissions.
"In addition, SESAR would also integrate cooperation with meteorologicalservices to limit the overall climate impact of airlines: this would includeusing meteorological forecasts to help select flight paths that would limitthe extent of vapour contrails."
"However much airlines try to play down the size of aviation emissions as aproportion of the global total, the fact is they are growing exponentiallyand severely undermining progress made in other sectors. The EU needs to doall it can to address this.
"Air traffic management clearly has an important role to play in thisregard, so today's vote is to be welcomed. However this in no way removesthe need for tough additional measures, including introducing a separateemissions trading scheme (with rigorous caps) and a kerosene tax. The EUmust do all within its power combat the climate threat of aviation."
