EU Transport Ministers endorse including aviation in emissions trading

Transport Ministers at the European Union (EU) Transport Council meeting on 8 June 2007 have concluded that aviation should be included of in emissions trading. EU member states will adopt a common position on the issue at the ICAO Assembly in September.

In a statement announcing the decisions the German Transport Minister, Wolfgang Tiefensee, who chaired the meeting noted that "aim of the conclusions was to convince the other ICAO countries of the need to include aviation in emissions trading ... there was likely to be a heated debate at the next ICAO Assembly in the autumn on the issue of including third countries with or without their consent."