EU to Airlines: Reduce Carbon Emissions Or Else

Nice ultimatum. The European Union has published a list of 4,000 airlines it says should reduce its carbon emissions if it wants to continue flying into European airports.

The European Union on Saturday published a list of nearly 4,000 airlines that it says should reduce their impact on the environment from 2012 or face being banned from European airports.

Pollution from aircraft emissions currently represent three percent of European emissions.

The EU adopted the policy in January despite opposition from the majority of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) member countries and companies belonging to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). A new European law is due to come into force soon.

Under the new law, from January 1, 2012 all airlines -- both European and non-European -- operating within Europe would have to limit CO2 emissions or face penalties.

Airlines will have to start monitoring their emissions from January 2010, in line with plans submitted this year.

Curiously, there's no word on whether these requirements would apply to private or chartered jets - particularly the kind that Hollywood elites and former Vice President Al Gore prefer.

Airlines are already under tremendous economic pressures as a result of the recession and constantly have to deal with the cost of oil as influencing the price and travel demand.

This is once again about control, and it will raise costs to travel as airlines have to incur additional costs to comply with the EU requirements.

However, there is the possibility that this could backfire on the EU and airlines simply choose not to fly to Europe rather than have to face additional costs.