UPDATE 1-EU Parliament wants aviation tax, emissions trade Tue Jul 4, 2006 11:15am ET Email This Article | Print This Article | Reprints [-] Text [+] (Adds comment from industry) By Jeff Mason STRASBOURG, France, July 4 (Reuters) - Airlines should pay a tax for jet fuel and join the European Union's emissions trading scheme to cut back on the rising amounts of greenhouse gases they produce, the European Parliament said on Tuesday. International aviation is not covered by the Kyoto Protocol on climate change but its emissions are projected to grow in the coming years, causing concern among environmentalists, especially as the low-cost airline sector booms in Europe. The European Parliament gave its backing to proposals by the executive European Commission to include airlines in the emissions trading scheme, where industries trade rights to emit carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas blamed for global warming. But the parliament suggested setting up a separate trading system for airlines on a trial basis first, to prevent carriers from buying up rights from power companies instead of tackling their own pollution problem. "A separate, closed system for aviation is crucial at the very least as a pilot scheme," said Caroline Lucas, the Greens parliament member who sponsored the resolution. The resolution said that if aviation eventually joined the full EU scheme, steps should be taken to ensure it did not distort trade among other sectors, for example by limiting the number of permits airlines are allowed to buy on the market. The parliament vote is non-binding and does not involve an actual piece of legislation. But it is considered a signal of support by EU lawmakers for future laws on airlines and the environment. A large majority in the parliament voted in favour. Continued... Roger & Amanda La France