ETS Support Facility Decision Still Not Resolved
Eurocontrol’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) support facility has still not been definitively confirmed as an option for operators to meet their obligation

Eurocontrol’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) support facility has still not been definitively confirmed as an option for operators to meet their obligations to monitor, report and verify carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions under the ETS. The air traffic management agency is still negotiating with the government of Ukraine, which was the one member state to oppose the funding and development of the support facility at a meeting of the Eurocontrol air navigation services board last month. Eurocontrol indicated that further negotiations would be resolved within a few weeks, but talks are still continuing. The European Business Aviation Association has indicated that if the ETS Support Facility is blocked it would be completely unworkable for so-called small emitters such as business aviation operators to comply with the complex requirements of the ETS. In these circumstances, EBAA had said it could advise operators to withdraw cooperation from the program and, effectively, refuse to comply. Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed by the Air Transport Association (ATA) that seeks to block the enforcement of the ETS on non-European airlines will now go to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The ATA insists that moves to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from airliners must be implemented multilaterally via the International Civil Aviation Organization.