International Aviation and Shipping to be exempt from emissions cuts in Paris negotiations

International shipping and aviation, huge sources of emissions, were dropped from last week’s draft Paris climate agreement.
This is an incredibly backward step, leaving an emissions gap in the agreement equivalent to Germany and UK combined. Even more incredible given both sectors purchase their fuel tax free, and their emissions are set to treble by 2050.
In response to this the Environmental Pillar have joined with other International environmental organisations to call on EU Ministers for Climate Change and Commissioner Arias Canete to reinstate emissions targets for the sector.
In the letter, Bill Hemmings Aviation and Shipping Manager with European NGO Transport & Environment states:
“Europe has played a leading role in establishing an ambitious vision for the Paris process including
clearly stating the need for action by aviation and shipping. We call on European Ministers to act
immediately with other states to ensure that the language in previous drafts on aviation and shipping
emissions is reinstated. Paris must contain an explicit requirement for ICAO and IMO to establish
reduction targets and adopt sectoral measures that contribute fairly to limiting a temperature
increase to 1.5/2 degrees. Parties are already subject to such a requirement and many of them,
regardless of capacity, are coming forward with increasingly ambitious targets and measures of their
own. These efforts must not be undermined by special privileges to sectors that are well able to
make a fair and adequate contribution.
“What the world needs from Paris is an agreement which charts our path to a low-carbon future. What we must not get is an agreement which says ambition for some, exemptions for others. Paris cannot mean these sectors are fuel-tax and now emissions-target free.”
[button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Letter-to-Arias-Canete-and-EU-Climate-Ministers-re.-international-transport-and-COP-21.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo”  info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only show up if you have decided to show a popover.”] Click here to view the letter [/button]
 
[button href=”http://www.transportenvironment.org/press/paris-could-leave-aviation-and-shipping-fuel-tax-free-and-climate-target-free” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo”  info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only show up if you have decided to show a popover.”] Click here to view the Transport & Environment press release [/button]