The US Senate passed a bill on Saturday which means US airlines are exempt from paying for their emissions on European Flights.
The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) which has been enforced by the European Commission since January is dysfunctional at best but the fact that the US cannot even sign up to it is very worrying and sends out the complete wrong message on climate change.
Republican senator John Thune said in a statement:
"The Senate's action today will help ensure that US air carriers and passengers will not be paying down European debt through this illegal tax and can instead be investing in creating jobs and stimulating our own economy."
The Republicans statement should of read:
"The Senate's action today will help ensure that US air carriers and passengers will not worry about climate change and can instead carry on with business as usual as if climate change doesn't even exist."
The US continue to have no programme in place to address its own aviation emissions.
