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RF to ban aviation carriers paying greenhouse gas emission quotas

Okulov said that Russia “plans to ban on the legal level Russian companies pay for those quotas”

MOSCOW, March 12 (Itar-Tass) — Russia plans to ban legally to its aviation carriers paying of European quotas on emission of greenhouse gases, Deputy Minister of Transport Valery Okulov told reporters on Monday.

From January 1, 2012 civil aviation companies are included in the European system of trading emissions of greenhouses gases. According to European legislation, aviation companies using Europe’s air space are to pay for emission of greenhouse gases from engines of planes.

Companies are buying quotas on emission against the following formula: 85 percent of a company’s flights in 2010, which are taken as a reference point, are free, and the remaining 15 percent are to be paid for with money.

Experts say that Russian aviation companies will have to pay Europe 20-25 million dollars a year, and later on the fee will be only growing due to cutting of free quotas and raised traffic.

Okulov said that Russia “plans to ban on the legal level Russian companies pay for those quotas.” The State Duma is to adopt a bill. As yet, the issue is being discussed, he added.

Earlier, Itar-Tass reported that in February of 2012, there was an international conference on lowering emission of greenhouse gases in civil aviation. Following the conference, 29 countries, including Russia, adopted a “basket of decisions” to counteract the European measures to trade the quotas. The “basket” includes eight items and an addendum saying that the countries adopting it may also undertake other measures effective and necessary to their understanding.