Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 01/10/2012 7:04:54 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Flying to and from Europe just became more expensive thanks to the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The ETS was instituted in January 2005, in an attempt to control greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide.
Initially the scheme applied to power-generating facilities, oil refineries, steelworks, and other heavy industry in Europe. Now, as of the first of the year, the regulations have reached the airline industry, including aircraft based in the United States.
Flights to and from Europe account for a third of all global air travel, thus this plan is the widest-reaching measure ever imposed by any country, or regional bloc, to regulate CO2 emissions and further the United Nation's green agenda.
The new scheme will hold all airlines flying to, from, or within the EU liable for their greenhouse gas "pollution." The airlines began the year with an annual allotment of tradable carbon allowances to cover the CO2 they are allowed to emit without penalty. Carriers that exceed their limit will be able to buy allowances from other airlines that have emitted less than their quota. The kingpins at the EU contend that cap and trade is the fairest way to deal with aviation's contribution to supposed global warming. The airline industry represents about three percent of worldwide CO2 emissions. The plan is designed to rake in the equivalent of over a billion dollars this year alone (900 million Euros).
Cap and trade is a product of the green machinations dreamed up by the United Nations and originally presented to the public at the Rio Earth Summit in 1990. The stated goal of cap and trade is to force "changes in consumption patterns." Ideally, money raised by the scheme is to be used to support government social welfare programs.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Ping.
“There goes that 2012 Italy vacation.”
The way the Italian economy is going, a pointless faux-green EU tax should be the least of the things putting you off visiting. If you do go, you might want to take shotguns and canned food with you! :)
But the author fails to mention that the 'Green Agenda' is fundamental to The Left's continual quest for funds, control and power, They invented the concept in order to further those ends. Why would they vote against it other than a temporary 'two steps forward, one back, two forward' strategy?
What happens if airlines refuse to pay? Will they not let them land in Europe? Or will planes land in Africa with free ferry service? I’ve planned a return trip to Spain since last year; I’ll still go.
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