• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.54
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• pp.261-282
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• 2012

The European Union (EU) has introduced the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) as one of the key policies to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions and in July 2008, they decided to include aviation in the scheme. As soon as the decision was announced the EU ETS was met by sharp opposition from world governments and international aviation. A group of US airlines, in particular, dropped a lawsuit against the British government over aviation's inclusion in the EU ETS. On 21 December, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that aviation's inclusion in the EU ETS which covers all flights arriving into and departing from the EU is legal and does not contravene international law. The scheme eventually came into effect on 1 January 2012. However, most countries are in opposition to the EU ETS and have agreed on counter-measures to undermine the EU's plan which may bring chaos to the aviation industry if such measures were to put into practice. This study therefore will analyze the likely effects that may be brought to the Korean aviation industry as a result of the inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS. Further, it hopes to contribute to the Korean aviation industry by studying other countries' counter-measures in advance.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.127-145
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• 2011

European Union unilaterally included the emissions from aviation activities into EU ETS on 19 November 2008 by amending Directive 2003/87/EC. According to the Directive all the emissions(mainly against the CO2) from aviation activities shall be subject to the regulation of EU ETS from 2012. For the period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012, the total quantity of allowances to be allocated to aircraft operators shall be equivalent to 97% of the historical aviation emission s. From 1 January 2013, the allowances will be reduced to 95%. The allocation of allowances which may be applied by each operator with free of charge will be reduced from 85% to 82% from 1 January 2012 to 1 January 2013. Since the Directive will affect every country's airline industry more or less, the nations and international organizations respond variously. The controversial focus is that whether EU has the right to unilaterally include the emissions from international aviation activities into EU ETS. This article firstly analyzes the effect caused by EU ETS to China's airline industry, and then studies the legality of the action of EU subject to current positive international law, and finally draws the conclusion that EU enjoys no such right to unilaterally include the emissions from international aviation activities.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.3-26
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• 2010

The European Union(EU) has recently introduced its Directive 2008/101/EC to include aviation in the EU ETS(emissions trading system). As an amendment to Directive 2003/87/EC that regulates reduction of the green house gas(GHG) emissions in Europe in preparation for the Kyoto Protocol, 1997, it obliges both EU and non-EU airline operators to reduce the emission of the carbon dioxide(CO2) significantly in the year 2012 and thereafter from the level they made in 2004 to 2006. Emission allowances allowed free of charge for each airline operator is 97% in the first year 2012 and 95% from 2013 and thereafter from the average annual emissions during historical years 2004 to 2006. Taking into account the rapid growth of air traffic, i.e. 5% in recent years, airlines operating to EU have to reduce their emissions by about 30% in order to meet the requirements of the EU Directive, if not buy the emissions right in the emissions trading market. However, buying quantity is limited to 15% in the year 2012 subject to possible increase from the year 2013. Apart from the hard burden of the airline operators, in particular of those from non-European countries, which is not concern of this paper, the EU Directive has certain legal problems. First, while the Kyoto Protocol of universal application is binding on the Annex I countries of the Climate Change Convention, i.e. developed countries including all Member States of the European Union to reduce GHG at least by 5% in the implementation period from 2008 to 2012 over the 1990 level, non-Annex I countries which are not bound by the Kyoto Protocol see their airlines subjected to aircraft emissions reductions scheme of EU when operating to EU. This is against the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol dealing with the emissions of GHG including CO2, target of the EU Directive. While the Kyoto Protocol mandates ICAO to set up a worldwide scheme for aircraft emissions to contribute to stabilizing GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, the EU ETS was drawn up outside the framework of the international Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO). Second, EU Directive 2008/101 defines 'aviation activities' as covering 'flights which depart from or arrive in the territory of a Member State to which the [EU] Treaty applies'. While the EU airlines are certainly subject to the EU regulations, obliging non-EU airlines to reduce their emissions even if the emissions are produced during the flight over the high seas and the airspace of the third countries is problematic. The point is whether the EU Directive can be legally applied to extra-territorial behavior of non-EU entities. Third, the EU Directive prescribes 2012 as the first year for implementation. However, the year 2012 is the last year of implementation of the Kyoto Protocol for Annex I countries including members of EU to reduce GHG including the emissions of CO2 coming out from domestic airlines operation. Consequently, EU airlines were already on the reduction scheme of CO2 emissions as long as their domestic operations are concerned from 2008 until the year 2012. But with the implementation of Directive 2008/101 from 2012 for all the airlines, regardless of the status of the country Annex I or not where they are registered, the EU airlines are no longer at the disadvantage compared with the airlines of non-Annex I countries. This unexpected premium for the EU airlines may result in a derogation of the Kyoto Protocol at least for the year 2012. Lastly, as a conclusion, the author shed light briefly on how the Korean aviation authorities are dealing with the EU restrictive measures.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.32-38
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• 2012

The United Nations (UN) has tried to make international agreement to restrict artificial greenhouse gas emissions and the UN has concluded the UN Framework Convention Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto protocol. Moreover, in 2012, the European Union announced that they will enforce the Directive 2008/101/EC. Therefore, after 2012, aircraft carriers that depart or arrive from EU will follow that regulation. For these reasons, Korea should prepare systematic and effective policy to reduce greenhouse gas emission from aviation activities. The purpose of this study is to find out effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission from aviation activities through research by countries all over the world. Here are the 4 measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission from Aviation activities that were found through research UK and Japan's policies. First, Korea should implement aggressive incentive policies. Providing proper incentive can attract voluntary participation of aircraft carriers to reduce greenhouse gas emission. Second, the government should adopt environmental tax on use of fossil fuels. Third, Korea should adopt the greenhouse gas Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Lastly, the Korea government should pull in with the international community to establish world-wide environmental policies.