EU heads off carbon rift with airlines

The inclusion of foreign airlines in the European Union’s carbon emission trading scheme is to be delayed to head off a transatlantic showdown. The US and Asian countries reacted angrily to plans to force all airlines that land and take off in the EU to pay to pollute. Washington had served notice it could take legal action against the EU if it included non-EU airlines in 2011, when the scheme is extended from industry to air travel.

European Commission: IP/06/1862: Climate change: Commission proposes bringing air transport into EU Emissions Trading Scheme http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1862&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

BBC News, 20.12.06: EU tackles aircraft CO2 emissions http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6195567.stm

European Commission: DG Environment: Policies: Climate change: Aviation and climate change http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/aviation_en.htm

United Kingdom: DEFRA: Press Release, 20.12.06: Government greets EU aviation plans http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2006/climate-1220.htm

ICAO: Environmental Unit: Aircraft Engine Emissions http://www.icao.int/icao/en/env/aee.htm

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