CURBING AIRLINE EMISSIONS

Yeah, its usually not all that hard to get France to go along with programs like these. But what is the US going to do?

France supports cap on airlines’ carbon emissions
June 26, 2007 (AFP via Yahoo News)

WHO
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, The European Union (EU)
competing European airlines' emissions (click to enlarge)

WHAT
Sarkozy affirmed his approval of EU plans to restrict airline greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as long as the restrictions applied to any country’s planes flying in and out of destinations served by the European airlines required by the EU to comply.

WHEN
- The EU proposes to begin requiring reduced airline emissions in 2011.
- Sarkozy was elected 6 weeks ago.

WHERE
The Sarkozy statement came at the initiation of a new section of Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport for the new Airbus A380 superjumbo.

WHY
- Airline emissions account for 3% of the worldwide total, a disproportionate large footprint, and have increased 87% since 1990, especially with the spread of low-fare lines and flights.
- Sarkozy pointed out such emissions caps would be a step toward combating climate change. He observed the airlines must pay for the harm done by the fossil fuels they burned.
- The EU caps would force the airlines to buy credits from other industries or countries.
- The US leads the opposition to the EU plan, claiming it violates trade laws by imposing restrictions on foreign businesses.
an indicative UK study showing that while all other domestic emissions (yellow) are expected to be controlled, airline emissions (maroon) will likely become a bigger part of the problem (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Sarkozy: "I am in favor of applying quotas for CO2 emissions to air transport…We are obviously not going to apply this only to European companies: On a given destination, all airlines must be concerned or none…The unprecedented development of air transport ... has contributed to the unity of Europe, to exchanges and contacts between cultures…"