Aviation institute's Beijing workshop tackles issues in emissions trading

College of Law Professor Jerold Friedland and Dean Long Weiqiu of Beighang University Law School issue the welcoming address among students from DePaul and Beihang.

The International Aviation Law Institute (IALI) traveled to Beihang University Law School in Beijing, China, to host its fourth academic exchange to address key issues in international aviation law in May. Cosponsored with the Beihang Law School and DePaul’s Asian Legal Studies Institute, IALI's 2012 workshop focused on the legal and policy issues related to the inclusion of foreign carriers in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).                                    

Oettinger and Kurland (right) provide opening remarks.

At the invitation of IALI, leading U.S. government officials presented perspectives on the United States’ role in aviation emissions reduction. In their opening remarks, guest speakers Susan Kurland, assistant U.S. secretary of transportation for aviation and international affairs, and Julie Oettinger, assistant administrator for policy at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s International Affairs and Environment Bureau both reinforced the United States' commitment to the goal of emissions reduction, but also emphasized the government's stance to negotiate through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

IALI’s own FedEx-United Airlines Resident Research Fellow John Mulligan presented “The Triumph of Politics: Reflections on the Judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union Validating the Inclusion of Non-EU Airlines in the Emissions Trading Scheme,” an article co-authored with Professor Brian Havel, IALI director. His presentation was followed by a discussion moderated by John Byerly, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary for transportation affairs.

John Byerly, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary for transportation affairs, moderates a discussion panel.

The second half of the workshop featured separate presentations by Professor Li Bin, associate director of Beihang's Institute of Space Law and Institute of Aviation Law, and Professor Yang Caixia, also of Beihang.

IALI has worked to deepen DePaul’s role in civil aviation law and regulation in China for the past several years. As part of IALI's China initative, the College of Law has hosted visiting professors, and in 2011 IALI appointed Administrator Li Jiaxiang (former president of Air China), an honorary visiting professor and distinguished international scholar.

IALI will continue its Key Issues in Aviation Law series with a new installation in 2013.

 

Photos courtesy of Beihang University Law School.