The European Union (EU) has released a list of nearly 4,000 companies including commercial airlines, private jet operators and air forces around the globe that must reduce their emissions or face a European airport ban, reports DW-World.de.
Last year, the EU adopted a new policy that requires airline emissions in Europe to drop by three percent by 2012, and five percent by 2013. Aircraft emissions currently represent three percent of Europe's CO2 output, reports DW-World.de.
The new European law will go into force on Jan. 1, 2012. In order to meet the target, airlines named on the new list in the Official Journal of the European Union must reduce their emissions or face penalties, reports DW-World.de. The list includes transportation giants such as Lufthansa, Alitalia, Quantas, KLM, Emirates, US Airways and United as well as manufacturers Airbus and Dassault, hundreds of private business jet operators, the U.S. Navy and the air forces of Israel and Russia.
The EU adopted its new policy in January despite pressure from the majority of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) member countries and companies belonging to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Companies will be able to buy permits from the European market or invest in clean development programs if they do not meet targets.
