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Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick this week launched a consultation on the methodology that should be used for the aviation emissions cost assessment (ECA).

The emissions cost assessment, announced in The Future of Air Transport Progress Report (2006), will compare the social cost of aviation's climate change emissions with the extent to which the industry covers that cost. This information will then be used to help inform strategic decisions on future aviation policy.

The introduction of the ECA is in line with recommendations of the Stern Review on the economics of climate change and the Eddington Transport Study, both of which emphasised the importance of ensuring that services reflect their respective climate change costs.

Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"This consultation will allow the industry and others to have an input into the ECA's methodology to ensure that it is scientifically robust and accurate. The ECA will act as a constructive tool to help us assess whether aviation is meeting its climate change costs and, if not, inform government policy to ensure that it does."

The consultation seeks responses on a number of technical issues, including the following:

* Estimating the climate change impacts of UK aviation

* The use of a multiplying factor to account for the non-CO2 effects of aviation

* Which data sources should be included

* Future reviews of the methodology

The consultation which closes on 30 October 2007 can be seen at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/emissioncostassessment

Notes to editors

1. The development of an emissions cost assessment was announced in the Future of Air Transport White Paper Progress Report, published in December 2006. The White Paper set out the Government's support for the sustainable development of aviation capacity in a way that meets both environmental and economic goals.

2. The social cost of carbon places a monetary value on the climate change costs of an activity. A Government Economic Service (GES) working paper 'Estimating the Social Cost of Carbon Emissions' published in 2002, suggested a global damage cost of £70/tC in the year 2000, in 2000 prices. This value rises over time to reflect the increasing marginal cost of emissions as atmospheric concentrations increase. This working paper is available from the HMT website (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).

3. Government guidance on the social cost of carbon is currently under review and revised guidance is due to be published shortly.

4. International aviation accounts for 6% of UK CO2 emissions.

5. Domestic aviation accounts for 0.4% of UK CO2 emissions.

6. Aviation emissions account for 1.3% of global CO2 emissions.

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Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk