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16 Finnair Group by an eu decision, european airlines will join the emissions trading scheme in 2012. in Finnair's view, the goal should be to ensure that the entire sector worldwide comes within the scope of global emissions trading. the opportunity to create such a sector agreement covering all airlines will be presented at the Copenhagen Climate Conference in autumn 2009. Finnair supports an agreement as a member of the aviation Global deal Group. Emissions trading in 2012 It has been calculated that air transport carbon dioxide emissions represent around two-three per cent of carbon dioxide emissions generated by humans. EU took action and decided that all airlines operating to and from Europe will join the emissions trading scheme as of 2012. As far as the objective is concerned, it easy for nearly everyone to agree: emissions must be reduced. Patience is a virtue, however, also in terms of the emissions trading decision, to ensure that the end result is agreeable to all. Reducing emissions requires airlines to be able to invest in new aircraft. Investment capacity, on the other hand, arises from competitiveness, which is not improved by sanctions or by placing some companies in an unequal position. "Airlines and the entire sector must, of course, take responsibility for their emissions and environmental impact," says Finnair Vice President Sustainable Development Kati Ihamäki. he environmental impact of flying is fairly modest compared to the sector's efficiency, and as technology develops the impact will become even smaller. Furthermore, flying is very important in terms of the world's economic and social wellbeing. "It's clear that flying will continue and that it is needed. The economy is global and production is being centralised. In addition, people want to travel," explains Ihamäki. It is therefore not sensible to adopt an emissions trading model that would unreasonably and adversely affect airlines' operations or would put some companies in a different position in a freely competitive market. Rather we need a system that would reward those who conduct themselves in an exemplary manner, those who reduce their emissions by investing in modern technology and improving their operating practices. "Emissions trading in the form proposed by the EU will punish European companies, because airlines operating from Europe will pay for the emissions of all of their flights, while those coming from elsewhere will pay only for the flights they operate to or from Europe. Moreover, airlines coming from elsewhere will be able to fly over Europe without paying for their emissions. Accordingly, stopover locations outside Europe will begin to be favoured, thereby leading to the generation of more emissions on circuitous routes", Ihamäki says. "We really hope that a sector agreement can be reached on the issue, namely a global agreement covering all airlines, at the Copenhagen Climate Conference in 2009. Then the right price would be obtained for air traffic emissions and emissions trading could be properly directed to reduce emissions." Finnair belongs to the Aviation Global Deal (AGD) group, which consists of the international Climate Group and many notable airlines. The AGD's goal is to obtain a global sector agreement on airlines' carbon dioxide emissions at the Copenhagen Climate Conference. investment capacity will deteriorate, companies' position as employers will be endangered, and development and responsibility projects will be reassessed. As companies' investment capacity weakens, airline manufacturers will be reluctant to invest in product development, delaying further reductions in aircraft energy consumption and emissions. Various emissions trading models are in use and more are already being planned. Ihamäki is also concerned about why the emissions trading decision in the EU was made so quickly, with little time to consider all the consequences. "For example, the harmonisation of air traffic control, which could achieve at once emission reductions of around 12 per cent, has been on the table in the EU for 20 years, and is only now being implemented, even though it would have an immediate impact on emissions." T T he EU emissions trading model would also weaken European airlines' ability to operate responsibly: as their competitive position weakens,
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