Airlines set to trade greenhouse gas emissions

The European Commission said it expected aviation to be included in Europe's greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in 2012 rather than impose a fuel tax or a levy on passengers. Stavros Dimas, Environment Commissioner, said this option appeared the most probable to be approved of three options for reining in the industry's carbon dioxide emissions associated with climate change. But because of likely political and technical obstacles, the Commissioner expected aviation emissions to be included in 2012 rather than in 2008 when the scheme was to be next revised.