U.S. Airlines, Passengers to Pay Emissions Tax to European Union

U.S. Airlines and Passengers to Pay Emissions Tax to European Union
May 17, 2012 byGiacomo

Have you ever heard of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme? Trust me, ‘scheme’ is the right word.

The Trading Scheme was first enacted in 2005 to combat greenhouse gasses and supposed climate changes. Any industry within the jurisdiction of the European Union (EU) that produces carbon dioxide is required to monitor the amount of emission and report it to the officials. The EU issues carbon credits and the companies trade them back in to the EU in relation to the amount of their emissions.

In an effort to expand their control of carbon emissions released within the EU jurisdiction, they have decided to place a carbon emission tax on all airlines flying in or out of EU airspace. Effective in January of this year, the EU emission tax has been levied on all US airlines that start or end their flights in EU airspace. And, the tax is calculated on the entire flight regardless of how much or how little EU airspace is involved. For instance, if a flight originates in Los Angeles and lands in London, the EU emission tax will be applied for the entire distance between LA and London, even though it may only have flown a couple hundred miles in EU airspace.

A number of nations (Russia, China, Japan, India and Brazil) are resisting the EU emission tax. They all believe it is a violation of their own sovereignty.

Sen John Thune (R-SD) agrees with them and believes the EU tax is a violation of international law. Figures released by Thune’s office indicate the EU tax will cost US airlines and airline passengers over $3 billion over the next 8 years. In response to the EU tax, Thune commented,

“The idea that the European Union has the right to tax American air passengers and carriers flies in the face of our country’s sovereignty. I reject this proposed European tax and will work with my colleagues in Congress and countless concerned stakeholders to block this tax.”

“Even the Obama administration testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in July of 2011 that an EU ETS is inconsistent with international aviation law.”

To protect US sovereignty and the US airline industry, Thune introduced the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act last year. Unfortunately, the bill is being held in committee by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

If you also believe the European Union emission tax is a violation of international law and US sovereignty and you do not want to pay higher airline prices to fly, then please contact your US Senators and urge them to work on getting Sen Thune’s bill out of committee and to the floor of the Senate for a vote. We need to stop the EU now and keep them and their money hungry tax collectors on the other side of the Big Pond.

Read more: U.S. Airlines and Passengers to Pay Emissions Tax to European Union - Godfather Politics



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