Emissions trading for aviation
The European Council decided in October 2008 to make it obligatory for airlines to participate in the CO2 emissions trading system. The European directive regulating the obligation was published on 13 January 2009 and the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment will implement the directive in Dutch law this year.
How does the directive affect aircraft operators?
The directive introduces an emissions trading system for aircraft operators. It requires the surrender of emission allowances for all CO2 emitted during the calendar year by flights covered by the directive. The emissions must be determined using a system adopted under a decision by the European Commission. Emissions must be reported after each calendar year (before 1 April of the following year) and the number of emission allowances corresponding with the reported emitted quantity of CO2 must be surrendered before 1 May. Each existing operator may apply for free emission allowances.
What are my obligations?
If your aviation activities meet the criteria for participation in emissions trading, you will have to monitor CO2 emissions according to your annual emissions monitoring plan. This monitoring plan needs to be approved by NEa in advance.
Each year you must report your emissions to NEa, and from 2012 you will have to surrender sufficient emission allowances to offset the reported emissions.
How can I get free allowances?
Each operator can apply for free allowances. The total quantity of allowances will be allocated to operators on the basis of a European benchmark. The benchmark to be used to allocate free allowances is calculated by the European Commission.
Operators may apply to NEa for free allowances early 2011 (not later than 31 March). To make an application you must:
- submit to NEa a tonne-kilometre monitoring plan for approval;
- monitor and record tonne-kilometre data during the 2010 calendar year in accordance with the approved monitoring plan;
- submit an application not later than 31 March 2011 accompanied by a tonne-kilometre report for 2010, verified by an independent verifier.
