Greeny News

The European Union looks set to impose a system of carbon trading in all passenger flights taking off or landing in the Member States

Europe is expected to the government on Wednesday that airlines based outside the continent should have to pay for their carbon emissions on flights to or from EU countries in a crucial test for the regulation of climate change.

are involved millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions from aviation, the airlines now have little or no incentive to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gas emissions.

There are indications that the EU will be allowed to impose a system of carbon trading in all passenger flights taking off or landing in the Member States. In a preliminary decision in October, the court approved the plans of the EU. But whatever the 13 judges in Luxembourg will decide Wednesday, is unlikely to be the end of history as the long legal battle will open new fronts.

and U.S. legislators are trying to make it illegal for their airlines to comply with EU rules on carbon, and it is understood that China is formulating guidelines in a similar serious escalation of hostilities.

faces uphill battle, the governments of the United States and China as well as many international airlines against the EU legislators, who insisted that airlines must pay for its share potential damage from climate change. The U.S. government and China have threatened a trade war on the subject, and airlines have complained that if the EU rules are allowed to move forward, he fell with billions of dollars in new spending in the coming years.

But the amount may be small, analysts said. Research conducted this year by analyst firm Point Carbon Thomson Reuters that the probable total cost of all airlines at about ? 1.1 billion next year, but based on a carbon price of ? 12 per tonne - Prices have plummeted at most half that in recent weeks. Therefore, the actual cost is probably much lower.

"The battle has been remarkably strong, given the real implications of emissions trading, which are not really important," said Andreas Arvanitakis, associate director of Point Carbon. "This is an additional cost minutes compared to the cost of aviation fuel. This is certainly a game changer for aviation. "

be treated equally on each route, so that fair competition between them.

On October 6, the General Counsel - Legal Advisor appointed by the Court of Justice of the European Union - issued a formal recommendation to the court supported the legality of EU legislation. The Grand Chamber of 13 judges has been deliberating the case since the General Counsel, was released.

The United States, China and many airlines claim that the system is in effect a tax on aviation, which would be prohibited by the long international agreements. However, the EU counters that the system is not a tax, it represents a fair fight against climate change. Airlines based in the EU and subject to the rules of the carbon market from next year.