[Gee, I thought the Obama administration made at least the pretense of favoring environmental protection. Threatening a trade war? that also goes against the administration's free-trade slogans. ]
New York TIMES / February 17, 2012 / http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/18/business/global/countries-seek-retaliation-to-europes-carbon-tax-on-airlines.html Countries Seek Retaliation to Europe’s Carbon Tax on Airlines By JAMES KANTER and NICOLA CLARK BRUSSELS — China, the United States and two dozen other countries are looking at coordinated retaliation — including putting pressure on European airlines and other industries — if Europe tries to enforce a law requiring airlines to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions. The system, the European Union’s boldest initiative on climate protection to date, has provoked a worldwide outcry and raised the unwelcome prospect of a full-scale trade war. European officials have stood firm while challenging opponents to suggest an equally effective alternative. The European system requires an airline landing or taking off in Europe to acquire permits corresponding to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during the entire flight — regardless of where it originated or ended or the nationality of the airline. The system went into effect this year, although the first payments will not be due until 2013. Other governments have objected to Europe’s attempt to regulate emissions outside its airspace, while carriers like American Airlines and China Southern are furious because they could face big bills as the number of permits that they need to purchase rises. -- Jim Devine / "In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it's the exact opposite." -- Paul Dirac _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
