EBAA here on Tuesday outlined its proposal for carbon offset pooling as an alternative means of compliance for the European Union emission trading scheme (ETS), in an effort to keep the administrative burden acceptable for small business aircraft operators. In a session on business aviation and the environment, the European Commission’s representative gave details on what the ETS will look like for aviation in three or four years and hinted at possible exemptions for business aviation.
“Business aviation can set the standard by doing more than [its] share,” EBAA president Brian Humphries said. However, this standard would not be set through full inclusion into the EU ETS–which now covers about half of the EU’s CO2 emissions.
Rather, it would be a carbon offset scheme. EBAA is setting up an international not-for-profit association to manage the scheme on behalf of operators. “We have offered to offset 100 percent of our members’ CO2 emissions but need support from the EU to achieve this goal affordably and efficiently,” Humphries added. EBAA’s offer is for those aircraft that weigh less than 20 metric tons.
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