Isra-Mart srl: Sadc raises concern on emissions crackdown

www.isramart.com

TRANSPORT ministers in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region have agreed to oppose the imposition by the European Union (EU) of an emissions trading scheme aimed at cutting carbon emissions in the airline industry.

Next year carriers flying into the EU will have to cut their carbon emissions to 85% of the 2004-06 levels or face penalties.

South African Airways (SAA) said yesterday it had already sent two objections to EU over its "unilateral" actions. The carrier claims the scheme "infringes on the extra-territorial rights of countries", according to spokeswoman Dileseng Koetle.

"The taxes are absorbed into the general fiscus of the EU and do not necessarily benefit any environmental initiative," she said.

SAA is still deciding whether it will comply with the scheme, Ms Koetle said. If implemented as envisioned "it will have huge financial implications for us".

At a meeting last week Sadc officials identified the "unilateral" imposition of the emissions trading scheme by the EU as a challenge to the sustainability of Africa’s aviation industry, SA’s transport director-general, George Mahlalela, said yesterday. The Sadc meeting committed itself to "coming up with policies and interventions aimed at alleviating" some of the challenges facing the sector, he said.