EU’s green makes India see Red - The Aviation Row
May 17, 2012 in China, E.U., FEATURE, India by Priti Rajagopalan
Last month when I took my flight from Mumbai to Europe, I wondered if I was paying a higher price for my ticket because of the EU-ETS aviation law. The Europe Union (EU) decided to bring (aviation sector) every commercial flight that lands on European soil would need to comply with the Emission trading (ET) scheme by buying carbon permits to offset their emissions from January 1. The measurement and review would take up to April next year, after which the set up would be fully operational. But, so as to not put increasing pressure on the airline, the first 85% was free allocation and 12% was to be auctioned and 3% was reserved for new airlines. Equity and historical responsibility was at the heart of the aviation scheme, as India would have said! A good point of view is giving by our EU tracker, Seb, here.
But, but, but India is vehemently opposing the scheme for the same reasons, that of equity. All airlines except 6 airlines from China and two from India have refused to be a part of it. That is quite an irony considering, India and China host up to 68% of the clean development mechanism, a flexibility mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol. The EU ETS has recently shown SOME promise in reducing emission and which latest reports put at a 2%. But, that could be well be because of the economic slowdown. In order that airlines offset the emission due to airline emissions they would have to invest in a clean development mechanism which is a flexible offset mechanism. Moreover, this tax could be used to fill the green Climate fund that would ultimately be used to finance technology and adaptation in the non Annex I nations.
Will the Indian airlines give in?
India has two airlines which are international carriers, Jet airways and the national carrier, Air India. Air India has operational problems of its own and the aviation world is not losing much by not having Air India in it. In fact, in the past few years, I have hardly ever met a family, friend or acquaintance who has taken an Air India flight to Europe. That leaves Jet Airways to plunge headfirst into the aviation scheme. Basic instinct would say that no airline would jeopardize its market in the international sphere because of a country’s whim to react. So, my money is that India would give in!
How would India retaliate?
A little birdie says that India and China are infuriated for not sticking to common but differentiated responsibility and of trampling over their sovereign rights. Also, India could stop the European airlines from flying into the country or in turn putting heavy taxes! This could also start a trade war between India and Europe, but that would heavily harm Indian economy, more than complying with the aviation scheme would. And, biggest threat might be that India and China would not buy their aircraft carriers from Europe and search other shores.
Between a sinking national carrier and confirming to the aviation scheme of the EU, every time the EU wants to go green, India has been seeing red. India’s defensive attitude has become a habit to an extent that it is becoming difficult for them to accept that there exists a middle ground. If EU’s current adamancy is only a preview of what is to come ahead in the climate deal, then we are going to see a bumpy ride on air and ground. Hope, EU does not bring this ride under the EU-ETS!
P.S : My trip was prolly part of the 85% free allowance :)