New bill would force US airlines to violate EU’s ETS law

According to the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF), a proposed bill would force US airlines to violate the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) law.

The new bill would make it illegal for airlines to comply with the EU’s ETS regulation.

The EU law is the only program in the world that sets enforceable limits on carbon pollution from aviation. Effective January 2012, all flights using European airports will be held accountable for their emissions, a move seen as an incentive for airlines to reduce their carbon footprint.

EDF’s international counsel, Annie Petsonk, accuses the legislators of keeping US airlines in the dark ages of relying on inefficient airplanes and outdated technologies. "This is an aggressive attempt by a few House members both to worsen pollution by scuttling a pioneering environmental law and to force US airlines to become scofflaws."

Furthermore, Ms Petsonk believes that the new bill would aggravate impair ongoing negotiations between the US and Europe and usurp the President’s constitutional authority to handle matters of international law.

Contrary to the airlines‘ public stance, the EU law will actually benefit US airlines by increasing their profitability, according to the airlines‘ trade association’s own economic analysis.

Three US airlines – United/Continental and American – and their trade association, Air Transport Association of America (ATA), have also challenged the legality of the EU law in Europe’s highest court.

IATA has also slammed the EU ETS, saying that a tunnel-vision focus on a unilateral, punitive and illegal ETS may help some government budgets, it will do little – if anything – to improve environmental performance.