Off to a flying start

Aviation is one of the fastest growing sectors in terms of carbon emissions, but a move by the European Commission to include airlines in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme has alarmed some in the industry

Plans by the European Commission to bring the aviation sector under the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) from 2008 could trigger sharp growth in the carbon market, say experts. As well as almost certainly bringing more buyers into the market, thereby pushing up the price of carbon, the inclusion of the aviation sector has some very wide-reaching implications.

First, the scheme could be introduced to all airlines - not just European ones - that touch down in Europe, thus laying