That's why flying could soon become more expensive – economy

Swiss researchers recently presented climate scenarios up to 2060. Conclusion: if it is not possible to rapidly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, summers become drier, more violent rainfall, more hot days and less snowy winter. To reduce its carbon dioxide emissions, Switzerland relies on the CO2 tax and the emission trading scheme (ETS), which allows energy-intensive companies , such as power plants, to emit a certain amount of CO2. During the winter session, the National Council will now deal with this trading system: as part of the revision of the CO2 law, it will decide on an agreement in the first place, which will link the 39 Swiss ETS to that of the EU. The 54 companies previously involved in the trading of emission rights in Switzerland have thus been able to access the EU market with around 11,000 participants.

The agreement would have consequences in particular for the Swiss aviation, which would be included for the first time in the trading of emission rights. Until now, this sector has no climate measures, although it accounts for about 18% of Switzerland's CO2 emissions. At the global level, it's almost 5%. These emissions must now be reduced or at least limited by certificate trading. The effect is controversial. In the preliminary advisory committee on the environment, land use and energy (Urek) of the National Council, the case was barely accepted with 13 to 12 votes. He notably voted for the National Green Council, Bastien Girod. "In the ETS, first of all, only flights inside Europe would be included, but not the most damaging continental flights to the climate," he said. he criticizes. "Second, the system creates too few incentives to even save CO2."

Too many certificates on the market

The problem of emissions trading is the economic slowdown of 2008: since then, there are too many quotas on the market and they are too cheap. It is therefore cheaper for companies to continue to emit greenhouse gases and offset them with purchased certificates instead of reducing their emissions by investing in climate-friendly technologies. The EU is therefore planning to raise prices because of a shortage of quotas. From the point of view of Bastien Girod, these efforts are not enough. They would be far too late, he said, and would argue instead for an environmental tax on airline tickets, as has been requested several times in the past. Last spring, the Coalition of Air Transport, Environment and Health (Klug), a broad alliance of associations, foundations and political parties, expressed its concern to the Federal Council. Tuesday, she still did the bitch at the federal palace.

"A tax on the tickets is absolutely necessary," said Girod. "Until now, this requirement has always been out of luck, and it is a good sign that the work of the Commission is now extremely complicated." The same opinion was expressed by the national counselor of the SP Eric Nussbaumer, who also sits on the Commission. He will submit a minority air ticket tax request during the winter session. Unlike Girod, however, he sees this measure as a complement to emissions trading, which he certainly sees as an appropriate instrument. "Although urgent reforms are needed to raise the prices of allowances, however, climate policy needs to be tackled on a global scale – so we must make every effort to create a common trading system. of emission. "

Tax on non-new airline tickets

However, there are also serious doubts about the effectiveness of the ETS in the field of aviation. Florian Brunner, Head of the Fossil Energy and Climate Project at the Swiss Energy Foundation SES, underlines the huge growth of the sector. "It is estimated that global CO2 emissions from air traffic will double between 2014 and 2030. Even though the EU was reforming the ETS, this measure is far from sufficient." Brunner also advocates a tax on airline tickets that can be introduced "quickly and easily". "There is already such a tax in twelve other European countries, especially in the UK, where it reaches 180 euros, the number of passengers has decreased," he said.

Both the authorities and the Swiss airlines, the tax on airline tickets is in a difficult position, they defend themselves with the argument of competitive disadvantage. They warn against a "national solo effort". The Federal Office of Civil Aviation also fears that Swiss passengers will escape from foreign airports. The expected environmental impact could even have the opposite effect due to deviated traffic. Brunner vehemently contradicts it: "In other countries the tax is already available, so it would not be an individual national effort, and since the aeronautics industry is a fast-growing market, such a Swiss tax would not be immediately ruined.

Additional charges for passengers

Whatever the economic disadvantages of the sector, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation believes that emissions trading is the best incentive to reduce CO2 emissions. The ticket price, as it exists in other European countries, is not booked and would therefore be equal to a fee. "The money collected probably has no policy effect," said the federal agency. Of course, a global market would be more efficient than the only European emissions market. One of these projects is already planned: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) intends to introduce by 2020 the system of international civil aviation (ICAO). exchange of rights "Corsia".

As the Swiss airline announces on request, it welcomes the "orchestrated approaches worldwide such as Corsia". By contrast, regional systems would lead to distortions of competition.

The interaction between the European Emissions Trading Scheme and Corsia depends on EU reforms. Anyway, the measures are likely to affect air fares soon. The Confederation expects additional costs related to the purchase of the certificate. They are likely to be "passed on to passengers in one way or another".

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