EU lawmakers approve airlines emissions plan

AFP, July, 2008

STRASBOURG (AFP) — Lawmakers at the European Parliament voted massively in favour of plans on Tuesday to force airlines to cap their greenhouse gas emissions from 2012 and pay for some of their pollution.

Under the draft law, all airlines operating in the 27-nation European Union, including foreign carriers, will have to participate in the bloc's emissions trading scheme, the EU's main mechanism for fighting climate change.

The draft law -- a compromise between the parliament, EU members and the European Commission -- was adopted with 640 votes in favour, 30 against and 20 abstentions.

Once EU governments clear the decision, they will have a year to transpose the rules into national legislation.

© 2008 AFP