Washington warming to aviation emissions trading, says MEP

摘要

German MEP Peter Liese (EPP-ED) believes the United States may soon reverse its opposition to the EU's proposal to include airlines in its Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). Liese, who is the European Parliament's rapporteur for the proposal and strongly backs it, told Europolitics Environment, on 15 May, that on his recent trip to Washington, he got positive signals from the advisors of all three US presidential candidates and from key figures on Capitol Hill. Asked about the likelihood of a future US president mounting a legal challenge to the proposal - the administration of President George Bush has threatened to do this - Liese said "no, that was not my perception. The candidates' advisors did not raise opposition". However, Liese added that debate on whether to include aviation in a future US cap and trade scheme "does not seem so advanced yet". The US airline industry, which opposes inclusion, would most likely step up its lobbying efforts if this prospect moves closer to a reality, he suggested. Nevertheless, he was confident the US would enact a cap and trade law in 2009 that would cover aviation. While the existing US Senate cap and trade proposal, the Lieberman-Warner Bill, would not pass in 2008 due to Bush's opposition, he said the administration of a future President McCain, Obama or Clinton would table something early in 2009.