To secure ETS compliance, Europe could ban flights for violators
Operators failing to comply with their obligations under Europe’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) could be banned from taking off and landing at European ai

Operators failing to comply with their obligations under Europe’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) could be banned from taking off and landing at European airports. The measure is included in a draft regulation being prepared by the European Commission, which appears to be concerned that the threat of fines alone will not induce full compliance with the cap-and-trade program.

National authorities in each of the 27 European Union member states are responsible for the administration of the ETS, which comes into full effect on Jan. 1, 2012. Operators have been assigned to one of these states for the purposes of compliance. The national bodies can impose fines for failure to register or implement plans for monitoring, reporting and verifying carbon emissions, and for failing to submit sufficient carbon allowance credits to cover flights.