Travel & Tourism
MEPs approve airline emissions deal
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 9, 2008 - 10:12:49 AM

With 640 votes in favour and 30 against, MEPs have approved a plan to include airlines into a pollution-reducing Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2012 in a bid to cut the greenhouse gases emitted by the fast-growing sector, EU Observer reported.

This means that airlines will have to cut their CO2 emissions by 3% in 2012, and by 5% from 2013 onwards. Additionally, they will have to pay for permits covering 15% of their allowances to emit CO2 – the remaining 85% will be allocated for free.

Following an agreement with EU governments last month, all steps have now been completed for the proposal to be transformed into law and it is to apply to all companies flying in and out of the EU, including non-European ones. The proposal is part of the EU's emissions trading system, seen as the cornerstone of efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by 2020.

Meanwhile, G8 leaders - US, Canada, Russia, Japan, the UK, Germany, Italy and France - agreed on Tuesday to work together with the countries involved in the UN climate change talks toward cutting current greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050. UN-led talks on fighting climate change are set to conclude in Copenhagen in December 2009.