At least most airplane records can be counted on to arrive on time, if not the airplanes themselves. All airlines flying into and out of countries in the European Union were expected to report their carbon emissions for 2011 to the European Commission by March of this year, and most of the reports came by the deadline.
Over 1200 emissions reports were submitted, according to Breaking Travel News.com. Notably absent, however, were documents from ten airlines based in China and India. China, in fact, has banned airlines from submitting reports. The European Commission said that those airlines represent less than one per cent of emission reports and less than three per cent of emissions. The BBC News website is reporting that member states of the European Union have sent letters to the airlines that missed the deadline, requiring them to turn in their data by the middle of June. If they do not comply with the newly extended deadline, they could face financial repercussions.
Currently, air traffic accounts for approximately two per cent of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, but the sector is growing rapidly. Furthermore, other sectors that produce emissions, like electricity generation and land transport, are more difficult to constrain.
This year’s deadline was a “dry run” for next year, when aircraft emissions will be included in the carbon market. Failure to comply next year could result in fines for airlines of 100 British pounds for ever ton of carbon dioxide emitted or even a ban from E.U. airspace.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
