Explications (en)

Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC

11 May 2012

Consultation on the Ordinance on the

Acquisition of Data on Tonne-Kilometres

performed by Aircraft

Explanatory notes

Reference / document no. L043-1928

1. Background information

CO2 emissions from international air transport are constantly increasing throughout the world, but to date they have not been the subject of reduction targets within the scope of the Kyoto Protocol, which stipulates that these emissions have to be regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Since no global measures have been introduced as yet on this basis, the European Union (EU) has decided to incorporate all emissions (with a few exceptions) from flights that take off or land at airports in countries of the EU into the European emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) with effect from 2012. The member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA) have adopted these provisions within the framework of the EEA treaty so that with effect from 1 January 2012, all flights that take off or land in the area covered by the treaty are included in the EU emissions trading scheme.

The Federal Council is also endeavouring to find a solution to the problem of CO2 emissions from aviation. The current CO2 Act of 8 October 1999 requires the Federal Council to take steps to limit emissions from aviation fuels for international flights and introduce corresponding legislation within the framework of international agreements. The revised CO2 Act of 23 December 2011, which is

scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2013, gives the Federal Council the power to require aircraft operators to participate in the Swiss emissions trading scheme.

Switzerland and the EU are currently conducting negotiations on linking their emissions trading

schemes. These negotiations also cover measures aimed at limiting the level of CO2 emissions in the civil aviation sector. This development is partly a reflection of Switzerland's integration into the

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European civil aviation market under the bilateral agreement with the EU in this sector. Since the EU incorporated civil aviation into its emissions trading scheme with effect from 1 January 2012, it will only be possible to link the Swiss and EU emissions trading schemes in a competition-neutral manner if civil aviation emissions are also regulated in Switzerland. The goal is to link the two trading schemes as of 2014. For Swiss industrial companies it is important that this move is made as soon as possible, since they will not be able to buy and sell emission rights on the large and liquid EU market (or have them credited in Switzerland) until the merger has been effected.

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Agreement of 21 June 1999 between the Swiss Confederation and the European Community on Civil Aviation, SR 0.748.127.192.68.