A list published by the European Union (EU) over the weekend showed that UAE airlines will be monitored under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).  Emirates Airline, Air Arabia, and Etihad Airways are some of the airlines in the program, which starts in 2012 and will monitor airline carbon dioxide emissions.   Depending on the results, carriers could have to reduce environmental effects by buying carbon credits or through efficiency measures like retiring older aircraft.

Publication of the list of airlines to be monitored means that the airlines must now begin submitting monitoring plans.  Nearly 4, 000 commercial airlines business jet operators, and air cargo firms flying in and out of Europe are included in the list. Airlines contribute about 3% to the world’s carbon dioxide pollution each year, and this is expected to increase to 5% by 2050.