European Parliament Endorses Capping Carrier Carbon

Members of European Parliament today voted in favor of a proposal to include airlines in the European Union's emissions trading program, which would make the aviation industry a carbon-capped sector beginning in 2011. The proposal now moves to the European Council of Ministers.

The European Parliament modified in part the commission's proposal, making all carriers serving the European Union subject to the rule in 2011. Carriers operating outside of the EU initially were proposed to join the emissions program beginning in 2012.

Members of Parliament also lowered the cap for the aviation sector to 90 percent of the average annual CO₂ emissions the industry contributed to the atmosphere between 2004 and 2006, from 100 percent in the commission's proposal.

The EU's emissions trading scheme would grant permits to airline operators that allow each permit holder to emit one ton of carbon dioxide per year. "While some permits are allocated to operators free of charge, others are traded freely—this, to allow emissions reductions to be made where they are most cost-effective," the European Parliament said in a statement.

Parliament officials in a statement said CO₂ emissions from airplanes have grown 87 percent since 1990 and cited "low-cost airlines and increased business travel," among other factors.