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Airlines Push for Global Measures to Control Carbon Emissions
By CHRISTOPHER F. SCHUETZE Fabrice Coffrini/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Geneva International Airport. Airline travel is thought to cause 2 percent to 3 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. Last week, airlines called on the aviation authorities to find a way to curb emissions after 2020.Despite the unpopularity of a European aviation carbon emission tax, the world’s airlines are ready to discuss global measures. The announcement , which calls on the International Civil Aviation Organization, the civilian sky’s U.N. regulating body, to adopt an across-the-board, market-based mechanism to offset emissions, was made during the International Air Transport Association’s 69 th annual meeting, in Cape Town. “We can give them a direction we want them to go,” said Tony Tyler, the head of the association, about the recommendations to the governing body in a video statement . The International Civil Aviation Organization hopes to steer governments away from a patchwork of national rules and toward a single, global, market-based mechanism. “Such a patchwork would be an administrative nightmare,” said Paul Steele, the association’s environmental director at a news conference . The industry group represents 240 of the world’s airlines, which operate 84 percent of all civilian flights. The association has called for environmental standards before, but this is the first time it has called for comprehensive binding regulations. Since 2010, the association has been in favor of a 1.5 percent annual increase in fuel efficiency from 2010 to 2020, with carbon neutral growth by 2020. By 2050, the association wants net emissions cut by 50 percent from 2005 levels. As Rendezvous reported last year , Europe and the rest of the world have been in disagreement over whether foreign carriers should take part in the European Emission Trading System when landing at European destinations. A European Union rule, in place since last year, would have taxed carbon emissions on flights terminating or originating in Europe, even for non-European airlines. Last summer, a group of non-European nations met in Washington to condemn such taxation. Then President Barack Obama disappointed environmentalists when he signed a bill into law that actually prohibits United States airlines from paying the tax when landing in Europe, in contravention of international law. Earlier this year, the European Union announced a “stopping of the clock” in its demand for non-European carriers to participate in its emission trading program. At the time, Connie Hedegaard, the E.U. commissioner for climate action, described the move as allowing the rest of world to catch up. The air association’s most recent announcement was welcomed in Brussels. “It is a very strong message that the airline industry seems ready to support a single global market-based measure to keep their emissions in check,” Ms. Hedegaard said in a statement sent to reporters last week. “The E.U. is ready,” she said. Airline travel is thought to cause 2 percent to 3 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. According to a National Geographic report , an average passenger airplane burns four liters, or a little more than a gallon, of jet fuel for each kilometer each a passenger flies. This number is already a 40 percent improvement over jet fuel efficiency in 2000. Though the number of flights may still be climbing (Rendezvous reported last year on the one billionth international arrival in 2012), new planes are becoming increasingly fuel-efficient. “This is a responsible industry. We are the only industry in the world that has set itself clear targets in terms of emission standards,” said Mr. Tyler, according to the video statement. Continue reading
Dubai honours young scientists
Dubai honours young scientists Amira Agarib / 6 June 2013 The first Arab woman to be crowned genius of the year has been honoured at a ceremony, which also recognised young Emirati scientists. Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed honours Dr Manahel Thabet as Humaid Mohammed Al Qattami looks on during the Emirates Young Scientist Award ceremony in Dubai on Tuesday. — Wam Dubai-based Yemeni economist Dr Manahel Thabet, who won The World Genius Directory 2013 Genius of the Year Award in January, was lauded as a fitting example of what the youngsters should aspire to be. She is the youngest person in the world to earn a PhD in finance engineering, with the honour magna cum laude. Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, presented awards to the winners of Emirates Young Scientist Award in its fourth session in a ceremony on Tuesday, in the presence of Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police and Chairman of the UAE Talent Association; Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education; Dr Ahmed Eid Al Mansoui, Director of the Dubai Education Zone; businessman Mohammed Omer Haider and senior officials . Shaikh Majid praised the efforts exerted by civil society and the UAE Talent Association in building new generation, supporting educational institutions in the UAE and providing encouraging environment for innovation. Dhahi Khalfan lauded the unlimited support of UAE leaders led by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the patronage of Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed and the special care he shows in promoting the educational standard of UAE nationals. He also congratulated winners of the award in various categories. Dhahi Khalfan added that Arab and Muslim scholars in the past were known for being pioneers in the fields of science and mathematics. He said that Emirates Award for Young Scientists aims at giving opportunities to talented youth and enhancing their scientific capabilities in addition to spreading the culture of applied science and establishing database of talented young students. At the end of the ceremony, Shaikh Majid, Dhahi Khalfan and Humaid Mohammed Al Qattami honoured the students and officials. Humaid Mohammed Al Qattami and Mohammed Omer Haider were also recognised for supporting the award for the past four years. news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
World Bank Looks at Global Carbon Pricing Systems
Posted June 3, 2013 It’s ironic considering all the attention on the struggles of the EU Emissions Trading System, but today over 40 national and 20 sub-national government jurisdictions have either implemented or are considering carbon pricing mechanisms. Global emissions trading schemes map via World Bank This wide-ranging assessment comes from no less an authority than the World Bank, which announced their findings this week in a new report “ Mapping Carbon Pricing Initiatives: Developments and Prospects. ” The Bank’s findings once again underling the growing momentum toward an interconnected global carbon market working to fight climate change and spur the transition to a global clean energy economy. Lessons Learned From EU Struggles Despite international failure to establish an international climate deal through the United Nations, the Bank sees individual carbon pricing initiatives developing faster than ever before – and learning lessons from the EU ETS . These markets are taking shape at the same time international prices on carbon are at historic lows and the prospect of coordinated international emissions reduction measures uncertain. “Even as the first generation of the carbon market stutters…it is progress at the country level that gives hope,” said Rachel Kyte , World Bank vice president for sustainable development. “Carbon pricing is emerging and carbon markets have a future.” Multiple systems feature novel system designs like pricing stabilization mechanisms to make them flexible and adjustable to changing economic situations that may have been unforeseen when they were created. The current glut of allowances and low prices in the EU ETS has been attributed to system inflexibility to handle reduced allocation demand after the economic recession. EU ETS allowance price chart 2008-2013 via World Bank Carbon Pricing Covering 20% Total Global Emissions These emerging schemes could make a massive impact on global emissions. As of 2013, the countries with functioning systems or carbon pricing mechanisms scheduled to start within the next few years collectively emit 10 gigatons of CO2 per year – equal to about 20% of global emissions, or the combined annual emissions of the US and EU. The Bank report highlights cap and trade systems in the EU, California, Kazakhstan , New Zealand, Quebec, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative , and regional markets in Japan, as well as South Korea’s developing system . In addition, carbon taxes are cited in Australia , British Columbia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, South Africa , Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Even more promising, the Bank’s report does not fully consider China’s fledgling system , which has begun pilot programs in major cities and will roll out nationally in 2020. “If China, Brazil, Chile, and the other emerging economies eyeing these mechanisms are included, carbon pricing initiatives could…cover almost half of total global emissions,” said Niklas Hohne of report co-author Ecofys. Severe Beijing air pollution image via Shutterstock Linkages And Expanded Targets Boost Value The Bank report also recognizes the value of international system linkages in stabilizing individual systems long-term. Linkages between the EU and Australia and California and Quebec , and potentially the EU and China , will create efficiencies and benefits for each system. However, the Bank cautions linkages need to be carefully timed to allow new systems to become established before connecting to other schemes. Bank analysts also note the growing trend of existing or scheduled systems expanding coverage of domestic emissions, with Australia and Korea now targeting 60% coverage, California eyeing 85% coverage , and New Zealand targeting 100% coverage within a few years. “There may not be a one-size-fits-all,” said Alexandre Kossoy , World Bank senior financial specialist. “But it is clear the foundation of the first generation of market-based instruments is informing what will constitute the future landscape of carbon pricing.” Does Hope Spring Eternal? Ultimately, it all comes down to climate, the ability to fund our transition to a sustainable future, and our inability to come to international agreement on climate policy. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim recently said climate change presents “serious consequences to the economic outlook” of international economies, and the Bank’s report acknowledges current emissions put us on the pathway to a devastating 3.5-4 degree Celsius temperature rise by 2100. If enough carbon pricing systems are online or planned by the next United Nations climate meetings, the power of international carbon markets as an economic and environmental stimulus may be too hard to ignore. Continue reading
