Decision (EU) 2023/136

What it is

to amending Directive 2003/87/EC (EU ETS) to phase out free emission allowances for aviation and align with the global Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: Directive 2003/87/EC established an EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). It is aimed at tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a cost-effective and economically efficient way. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Sunčana GLAVAK (EPP, HR) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC as regards the notification of offsetting in respect of a global market-based measure for aircraft operators based in the Union. The proposal for a decision introduces an amendment to aviation rules in the Emissions Trading System of the European Union (EU ETS) to implement Member States’ notification to EU-based airlines of the offsetting for the year 2021 under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Members stipulated that this decision is intended to be a temporary measure that only applies pending the entry into force of Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC as regards aviation's contribution to the Union’s economy-wide emission reduction target. Members introduced a reference to the European Parliament's resolution of 21 October 2021 on the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 in Glasgow (UK) (COP26) in which the European Parliament expressed concern about the slow progress in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in tackling emissions from international aviation and reaffirmed, in this context, the need to regulate this sector under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Moreover, the European Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to do their utmost to strengthen the carbon offset and reduction scheme for international aviation (CORSIA) and to support the adoption by ICAO of a long-term emission reduction target for the sector, while preserving the Union's legislative autonomy in the implementation of the EU ETS Directive. The European Parliament adopted by 547 votes to 44, with 45 abstentions, amendments of the European Parliament to the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC as regards the notification of offsetting in respect of a global market-based measure for aircraft operators based in the Union. The matter was referred to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations. ICAO CORSIA is an offset mechanism where countries should have airlines based in those countries offset CO2 emissions that exceed the relevant baseline by international credits. Members introduced a reference to the Paris Agreement in the…

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