The US government has passed a bill that would potentially ban the country’s airlines from participating in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
The US House of Representatives passed the Senate-approved bill that allows the US Transportation Secretary to order American carriers not to participate in the ETS.
The European Commission confirmed this week that it would suspend the international implementation of the ETS, but the passage of the US bill is further evidence of the strength of opposition to the controversial scheme.
“The message could not be any clearer… EU ETS violates US sovereignty and will not do what it purports to as the funds do not have to be used for environmental protection,” said Nicholas Calio, president & CEO of US aviation body, Airlines for America (A4A) “There is a better way to improve the environmental efficiency of the airline industry, and US-based carriers are already leading those efforts.”
The EC announced its decision to ‘pause’ the ETS earlier this week, but while A4A said was “cautiously optimistic” about that action, it warned that it does not remove the threat of the ETS being implemented at a later date. The US legislation however, will make it significantly more troublesome for Europe to resume the plan, even if ICAO negotiations fail to provide an alternative.
China, India and Saudi Arabia have also ordered their airlines not to participate in the scheme, but US action would add considerable weight to the anti-ETS movement.
