Times of India , Thursday, May 01, 2008

Correspondent : Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Concerned over the rise in carbon emissions by aircraft and the boom in the aviation industry compounding the problem, the government will soon undertake a study to ascertain air pollution caused by planes, an official said on Wednesday. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the power ministry, will look at the impact of emissions by aircraft on environment, Arijit Sengupta, a BEE project engineer associated with the initiative, said. "The BEE would also suggest remedies which will have to be incorporated and strictly followed. We are yet to formulate the study," said a senior ministry official. According to official estimates, over 1,100 aircraft are expected to be added to the Indian aviation industry, sharply raising the level from the current 530. "This is why there is a need for conducting a study of emissions by aircrafts. Once we have over 1,500 aircraft by the end of 2009, it will drastically affect the environment," said the ministry official. Globally, the aviation industry contributes over two per cent of the total pollution. Also, the airline industry emissions have gone up dramatically in the past decade with the rise in the number of flights due to the emergence of low-cost air travel. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) forecasts that airline emissions will rise to three per cent of total carbon emissions by 2050, if not checked. The government's move in this regard is considered significant, as most countries have already imposed strict emission norms and noise restrictions on airplanes. At the third aviation and environment summit held in Geneva recently, 13 organisations including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and aircraft manufacturers Airbus, Boeing and Bombardiers pledged for a campaign against global warming and adopt strategies against pollution. Last year, the European Union (EU) proposed tax on all flights that arrived or departed from any EU airport, and argued this would help curb the growth in carbon emissions. The airline industry objected to the EU's proposal at the ICAO. The industry accused the EU of singling them out and said their emissions were negligible when compared to the auto industry.

SOURCE : Times of India, Thursday, May 01, 2008