A European Union plan to bring the airline industry into its carbon-trading market has just passed the E.U. Parliament, angering many airlines, the United States, and other countries. Parliament voted to require steeper emissions cuts than the E.U. Commission’s relatively weaker airline plan. Under the amended version, by 2011, all airlines flying within or into the E.U. would be required to reduce their emissions 10 percent below their 2004-2006 average or buy credits from other airlines that came in under the target. The proposal must now get approval from E.U. country governments and E.U. ministers before it can become law. Even if it successfully weathers the rest of the E.U. political process, observers say the United States would likely attempt to appeal to the World Trade Organization to overturn the law as a hindrance to international trade. Isn’t “free trade” undemocratic fun?
