U.S.-based carriers, and U.S. officials particularly, criticized the extension of the European ETS scheme to include aviation.

U.S.-based carriers, and U.S. officials particularly, criticized the extension of the European ETS scheme to include aviation. The Air Transport Association, which represents most U.S. major airlines, went so far as to say ETS was illegal and a "tax grab."
EU has no right to force airlines using its airspace to abide by its ETS rules, industry leaders said. Rather, the EU should be made to wait for a global agreement to be reached.
Morrell agrees aviation gets unfair press when it comes to its alleged detrimental contribution to global carbon emissions.
"The problem is that air cargo's measured contribution, like the rest of the airline industry, is further inflated by both operational and regulatory restraints," said Morrell.
Lack of airport and air traffic control infrastructure, he said, adds to congestion and wastes fuel. Many route sectors are flown indirectly due to the constraints of military zones and other government-imposed restrictions.
One carbon emission myth Morrell is anxious to expose concerns the carriage of perishables by air.
"Much has been made of the CO2 emission impact of 'food miles' in the current climate debate. Despite the rapid growth of this business, perishables still account for less than 10 percent of total global air traffic volumes and food is only one part of the perishables sector," said Morrell.
The use of air cargo in the import and export of food for the UK market, he said, is estimated to be only one percent of the total food volumes shipped. But some British climate change campaigners are arguing for a boycott of all fresh food imported by air.
"Even if UK consumers were to boycott all fresh produce air freighted to the UK from the whole of Africa, the UK's total emissions would be reduced by just 0.1 percent," he said.