Obama signs bill prohibiting US airlines from paying EU emissions tax

[wtmusic]

Note the language - prohibiting. Not that the Europeans have a right to control emissions in their airspace, or that less carbon in the air might do Americans some good too, but...this is just f*cking absurd. More BAU.

"5:01PM EST November 27. 2012 - President Obama signed a law Tuesday to prevent U.S. airlines from contributing to a European carbon-trading scheme, but negotiations for a global compromise will continue at a branch of the United Nations.

U.S. airlines had fought the program as an illegal tax that violates international law, estimating it would add $3.1 billion airfares over the next decade. European Union officials estimated it could add about $30 to each roundtrip ticket across the Atlantic.

China, India and Russia also oppose the program."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2012/11/27/obama-shields-us-airlines-from-eu-carbon-trading-scheme/1729765/

[tama]

1. It's obscene

Kerosene is tax free, while other forms of transport much less polluting are heavily taxed. It's very often cheaper to fly than to travel by train.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Business As Usual

BAU.

I was gonna ask then figured it out.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Uncool.

[pscot]

4. I knew we could count on Obama

now that he doesn't have to worry about getting reelected.

[joshcryer]

5. But Rio+20! Renewables!

This is why countries don't want to sign emission reduction agreements because it lets them pull bullshit stuff like this.

[Nihil]

6. Useless capitalistic bastard.

> President Obama signed a law Tuesday to prevent U.S. airlines from contributing
> to a European carbon-trading scheme, but negotiations for a global compromise
> will continue at a branch of the United Nations.

"Negotiations will continue" but the bully-boys will ignore anything that might
even vaguely impact their Business As Usual profit forecasts.

[hatrack]

7. Business As Usual we can believe in!