(openPR) - Sebastian Gallehr, CEO of GALLEHR+PARTNER, has continuing concerns regarding the “wait and see” attitude shown by many airlines towards the EU-ETS and CO2 Monitoring.

In an open letter to the Director General and membership of IATA, he addresses these concerns and calls for IATA to provide more guidance and encouragement to their members. He stresses that waiting for something better to come along is not an option.

In the letter he says:
"In your presentation to the 15th Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP15) in Copenhagen you claim that aviation serves as a role model in seeking to reduce its carbon footprint, I ask you to let the industries which have gone before you into the EU-ETS be your role models. These industries have continued their efforts to reduce harmful emissions, strengthened their CO2 management and reporting mechanisms AND embraced the EU ETS. Of course, each industry must continue to drive ways of reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gases – in the case of aviation your four-pillar strategy has already produced dramatic results and your continued efforts are to be applauded. But the Global Sectoral Approach you call for is still a long way off, the EU ETS is here now, is manageable, and airlines can use it strategically to learn for the future.

"Your membership is looking to you for guidance, and I ask you to encourage your members to stop waiting for something better and to open their eyes to the possibilities which the EU ETS as the first and only living market based environmental scheme offers. There is no turning back, instead, embrace the EU ETS and then improve the system from within.

"Waiting for something better to come along is not an option."

GALLEHR+PARTNER, the CO2 Navigator for Industries is a consulting and service company with strategic, technological and business expertise in the sphere of Resource Efficiency and Climate Change. Since 2003, GALLEHR+PARTNER has successfully consulted power supply companies and other energy-intensive industries. Focus in the aviation sector concerns the issues Carbon Strategies and Emissions Trading, Risk Management, Energy Management and IT and/or Process Optimization. From the very beginning, GALLEHR+PARTNER engaged itself with new issues within these areas for the financial benefit of the customers. German based GALLEHR+PARTNER are active throughout Europe and Asia.

As well as founder of GALLEHR+PARTNER, Sebastian Gallehr is also CEO of the European Business Council for Sustainable Energy (e5), founding member of DESERTEC and is member of the European Climate Forum where he is domain leader of the ECF Capacity Center.

GALLEHR+PARTNER joined the IATA (International Air Transport Association) Strategic Partnerships programme in 2009 to further promote understanding of environmental strategies, and in particular understanding of the Emissions Trading Scheme and its potential impact on the aviation industry. To learn more about IATA Strategic Partners and the Strategic Partnerships programme, visit the IATA Web site at www.iata.org/sp

Gallehr Sustainable Risk Management GmbH,
GALLEHR+PARTNER
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Press Contact: Judith Raddatz
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E-mail: judith.raddatz@gallehr.de