MEPs in the European Parliament's Environment Committee have voted unanimously in favour of a draft resolution calling for tough new measures to reduce the global warming impact of aviation and apply the "polluter pays" principle to the airline industry. The report will be submitted to the full House for approval at the July plenary session.
"Aviation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, with airlines currently taking almost no responsibility for the pollution they cause," said Caroline Lucas MEP (Greens/EFA, UK), the author of the draft resolution.
"The report […] recognises the need to level the playing field between aviation and other forms of transport," she said. To achieve this, MEPs supported the introduction of a kerosene tax for all domestic and intra-EU flights as a first step towards a global kerosene tax.
The Environment Committee also supported a Commission proposal to cap CO2 emissions for all airplanes departing from EU airports. Airlines would be able to trade their potential surplus 'pollution credits' on the EU 'carbon market' (Emissions Trading Scheme).
The Commission is expected to put forward a formal proposal to include aviation in the EU ETS by the end of the year.
