1. Emissions Trading Scheme News
February 2010
Latest List Released
The European Commission published the latest list of operators on Jan. 29, 2010 that must comply with the EU ETS. Operators have eight
(8) weeks to submit an emissions plan and an optional benchmark plan to their assigned Member State. The most up to date list can be
found at: CLICK HERE FOR THE FEB 2010 LIST
EU ETS Regions Added
In addition to the 27 existing EU Member States, 3 EEA EFTA regions are now included in the EU ETS. The non-EU states that are now
included are Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Flights to and from these 3 regions should be taken into account when tracking your EU
emissions. View the list of EU regions included in ETS
Frequently Asked Questions
The European Commission and Eurocontrol have published some informative and insightful frequently asked questions.
The European Commission’s FAQs can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/aviation/pdf/faq.pdf
Eurocontrol’s FAQs can be found here: http://www.eurocontrol.int/environment/public/faq/faq.html
Emissions Plan Compliance
It is vital that your flight operations department tracks data and complies with the record keeping processes addressed in your individual
emissions applications. Be sure that ETS data is being tracked in accordance with the procedures that we have written for your flight
department for EU flights. The primary data that your flight crews record will be used to create your annual emissions and tonne-
kilometre reports.
Commission Approved Tool
A Commission Approved Tool (Pagoda, ETS Support Facility, Small Emitters Tool, etc.) has yet to be accepted by the European
Commission. The reason for the extensive tracking, reporting and reviewing procedures in your plan, is due in part to the fact that an
operator needs to supplement data that is already being recorded by Eurocontrol. Although Eurocontrol has a record of all of your EU
flight activity, a tool has not been published for operators to estimate their emissions. If and when this tool becomes available, it will be
another resource to track your emissions and hopefully become your primary tool. The European authorities have stated that this tool
could be published as late as 3rd quarter of 2010.
Flight Planning Providers
The majority of flight departments are utilizing a mainstream flight planning vendor (ARINC Direct, Universal Weather and Aviation, Air
Routing International, etc.) for international flight planning. The flight planning providers may assist with reporting, but they will not
create and assist your department with completing the applications, writing your ETS procedures or ensure your ETS compliance. These
vendors have ETS tools in different stages of development; however, we do not have access to your particular flight planning tool. Please
do not completely rely on these vendors to track your ETS data. Although these tools are helpful, the actual data recorded by your flight
crews will be the only primary record of the ETS data that you your department is required to track. There is no substitute for a flight
crew that is well informed and in tune with the information required to be tracked. Please ensure that your crews follow these procedures
to stay in compliance with the emissions plan that we have designed for your flight department.
Verifiers
Operators have expressed concern regarding the requirement for a verifier. We are still waiting to see if the EU Commission relaxes the
requirement for a small aviation emitter to submit their data to a third party vendor. Our unofficial conversations with representatives,
within some EU member states, have given us the impression that the need for such a verifier may not exist in the future, thus saving you
time and money.
Penalties
If your flight department operates in and out of the EU and you did not have an emissions plan in place before your Member State's
deadline, you may incur outrageous fines. Some states have threatened to fine operators thousands of dollars for late submission of an
emissions plan application. If you miss the deadline you can receive penalties. Moreover, you will not receive free allocation of carbon
credits until 2020 if you miss your deadline. Up to 85 percent of carbon credits will be allocated for free in 2012. By the year 2020, free
allocations will drop to 30 percent. In 2027 free carbon credits will be a policy of the past and operators will pay for all carbon emissions.
It's not a matter of if you comply; it's a matter of when you comply. These policies are not optional and increases in emissions regulation
will only continue.
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