· Including airlines 'will push up cost of flights' · EC says current system is not a level playing field The EU is heading for a legal showdown with the US and Asia over plans by the European commission to bring all international flights to and from Europe into its carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS), its main weapon for fighting climate change. Senior US sources warned yesterday the proposal to extend the ETS from heavy industry and power plants to civil aviation within the EU breached the 1947 Chicago convention on international air travel and would not survive legal challenges. But Stavros Dimas, EU environment commissioner, insisted his plan, due to be adopted by the full commission on December 12, was compatible with the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. He said it was being drawn up after consulting senior lawyers and all challenges would fail. Philippe Varin, chief executive of steel group Corus, claimed the scheme needed to be tightened and widened if it was to be effective.
The EU is heading for a legal showdown with the US and Asia over plans by the European commission to bring all international flights to and from Europe into its carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS), its main weapon for fighting climate change.
Senior US sources warned yesterday the proposal to extend the ETS from heavy industry and power plants to civil aviation within the EU breached the 1947 Chicago convention on international air travel and would not survive legal challenges.
But Stavros Dimas, EU environment commissioner, insisted his plan, due to be adopted by the full commission on December 12, was compatible with the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. He said it was being drawn up after consulting senior lawyers and all challenges would fail.
Philippe Varin, chief executive of steel group Corus, claimed the scheme needed to be tightened and widened if it was to be effective.
But somehow it seems perfectly reasonable for the owners to complain if the serfs get uppity. keep to the Fen Causeway
