Every American lefty’s dream come true.
(WSCS) — International airlines lost a fight against the European Union’s planned expansion of its carbon cap-and-trade system, to which Europe’s highest court gave unreserved backing on Wednesday.
The EU Court of Justice “confirms the validity of the directive that includes aviation” in the emissions-trading program, the Luxembourg court ruled today.
The EU law charges airlines for carbon emissions on flights to and from Europe. Beginning January 1, all airlines flying into or out of European Union airports will have to buy permits under the EU’s emissions trading scheme, the court ruled.
United Continental Holdings, American Airlines, and the Air Transport Association of America challenged the EU’s attempt to extend the world’s largest cap-and-trade program beyond its borders. At a hearing in July, the airlines said the plan to extend the EU carbon market to flights that depart from or arrive at an airport in the region was unlawful.
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill prohibiting the country’s airlines from participating in the EU program after the industry estimated that participating in the cap-and-trade system would cost U.S. airlines $3.1 billion between 2012 and 2020. The measure needs the backing of the Senate and President Barack Obama to become law.