The UK Director General of Civil Aviation has issued a stern reminder to the airline industry that it will soon be held accountable for its carbon footprint.
Writing to the heads of 891 UK-regulated aircraft operators, Jonathan Moor urged carriers to prepare for a tough new EU directive governing aviation emissions.
From January 1, 2010, all European airlines will be held responsible for monitoring and recording the volume of carbon dioxide their flights emit into the atmosphere.
That data will then be factored into the brand new EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), which has been designed to help the aviation sector offset its pollution.
In his open letter to the industry’s top movers and shakers, Mr Moor alluded to a careful balancing act between generating profits and safeguarding the environment.
“The EU ETS marks significant progress towards enabling the aviation sector to take responsibility for its carbon emissions in the most cost effective way,” he said.
But he also gave a warning to carriers who flout the rules, adding: “A failure to prepare could have serious consequences for operators flying into or out of the EU.”
