The European Commission has proposed to set carbon dioxide emission quotas for airlines from 2011, a stance which has already met with hostility from the aviation industry and environmentalists.
The proposal, which still has to be adopted by EU member states and the European Parliament, would see emissions rules imposed from 2011 on flights within the EU and from 2012 for flights originating outside the union.
It would cover both EU and foreign aircraft operators and the quotas would be based on emission levels from last year.
'Aviation too should make a fair contribution to our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions,' Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said in a statement.
The quotas would be part of the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme. That would allow airlines to sell surplus quotas if they cut back emissions far enough. They would be forced to buy additional allowances if they produce too many.
Aircraft carbon dioxide emissions account for only about 3% of the global total but they have increased by 87% since 1990, according to the Commission.
