Feature: The EU backs CO2 cuts but, still has not come up with the global grand plan!

EU member states have made a big decision by calling for a deal by the developed world to cut 1990 levels of CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2020. If such an international deal fails, then the EU’s own emissions should be cut by 20 percent, they have said.

The EU environment ministers have decided on new targets to curb global warming as a follow up to the current international Kyoto protocol by which some industrialised countries have pledged to reduce their combined carbon emissions to below the 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.

All member states have made it clear that an international objective of a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses by 2020 is right in order to keep global warming to a level that they feel is acceptable. However they still need to agree a fair system of burden sharing within the European Union.

The EU has set a minimum 20 percent target for itself in case a deal for the developed world fails. The cost for the European economy would be too burdensome if only Europe committed to curb global warming, since the European competitive position would be weakened.

The European Commission will now have to set about the complicated technical work of how they can share the burden of cutting greenhouse gas emissions among the 27 EU member states.

While we must not object to the EU making a start in this complicated EU proposal we must recognise that this scheme is not a global solution and it would put European airlines at a commercial disadvantage. Lufthansa have expressed some strong views saying that if the scheme is only applied to flights landing and departing from EU countries then, if Lufthansa were to fly from Zurich to Hong Kong, for example then there would be no disadvantage to the airline.

Switzerland as a non-EU member might want to take advantage as the new hub for a number of European airlines that don’t want to lose out commercially if the EU enforces the scheme as it is presently proposed.

Incentive travel is a very important element in the mix of Sales Promotion, many consumers have enjoyed the benefits of travel reward schemes which often tie in with credit card spend and hotel vouchers, all well regarded by the consumer. The Chancellor, Gordon Brown did little for UK passenger confidence when he doubled the extra passenger tax from 1st February 2007 with little thought about travellers who had already paid for their travel in advance. It would be more constructive if the Chancellor had given more thought to the tax. What will happen to the revenue, will we see lots more trees? I doubt it, sorry to be cynical.

We still need to remember that China, India and the USA must play their part in the “saving our planet” scheme. If products produced in countries with less than favourable eco conditions continue then all options could be reviewed and taxes could be levied on products imported from polluting countries might be one of the ways forward.