Airlines to be Subjected to EU Emissions Laws
July 9, 2008
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A vote in the European Pariliament has assured that airlines will be included in the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme from 2012 onwards. This is seen as a big step towards reducing their carbon footprint and fighting global warming as the airline industry is one of the fasting growing emitters in the EU.
The airlines will have a few years to prepare and adjust before the new law takes effect in 2012 when carbon emissions have to be cut 3%. That will rise to 5% in the following year.
The aviation industry currently accounts for only 3% of total carbon emissions from the EU but it rising fast with air traffic expected to double by 2020. Acting now will help ensure that the industry adopts the necessary measures to cut their carbon footprint and fight global warming.
The vote in the European Parliament was passed with an overwhelming majority at 640 to 30, demonstrating the importance of fighting global warming to the members of the EU.
The EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said, “Greenhouse gas emissions from international air transport are increasing faster than from any other sector in the EU, and this growth threatens to undermine our overall progress in cutting emissions.”
The new laws will apply not just to EU airlines, but to any carrier flying in or out of the EU, which includes almost every major airline in the world.
For customers, however, it nearly ensures price increases whenever you fly starting in 2012 to pay for the changes. While customers always profess to want companies to reduce their carbon footprint, they are far less keen when the costs of doing so are passed on to them. In response to these concerns, EU officials are predicting a faster adoption of green technologies and fuel in order to minimize future costs when cutting their carbon footprint.
Not surprisingly, the airline industry is not happy with this decision. An industry organization representing 38 airlines said, “Today’s vote creates the worst of all worlds – even more financial pressure on airlines without any proven benefits for the environment.”
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