EU politicians have reiterated the bloc's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS tax) will apply globally to all carriers flying within the EU (and to or from EU airports) if the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) fails to deliver a timetable for a global carbon-limiting, market-based measure (MBM) at its general assembly this northern autumn.
The European Commission late 2012 proposed suspending for one year the inclusion of non-EU airlines in the ETS. Parliament's environment committee voted in favour of the Commission's proposal only a few days ago, but also approved amendments making the suspension "an exception" that should apply for no more than one year.
What this means is that despite formidable hurdles in its path including how to handle emissions from airlines in developing countries, ICAO now faces a potentially immovable deadline.
And the EU also has put itself between a rock and a hard place. Foreign governments including the US and China have made it clear they are prepared to order their airlines not to participate in the ETS despite penalties that can include confiscation of aircraft.
EU politicians have reiterated the bloc's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS tax) will apply globally to all carriers flying within the EU (and to or from EU airports) if the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) fails to deliver a timetable for a global carbon-limiting, market-based measure (MBM) at its general assembly this northern autumn.
The European Commission late 2012 proposed suspending for one year the inclusion of non-EU airlines in the ETS. Parliament's environment committee voted in favour of the Commission's proposal only a few days ago, but also approved amendments making the suspension "an exception" that should apply for no more than one year.
What this means is that despite formidable hurdles in its path including how to handle emissions from airlines in developing countries, ICAO now faces a potentially immovable deadline.
And the EU also has put itself between a rock and a hard place. Foreign governments including the US and China have made it clear they are prepared to order their airlines not to participate in the ETS despite penalties that can include confiscation of aircraft.
