The announcement was made by climate change secretary Ed Miliband and transport secretary Geoff Hoon.
The EU emissions trading scheme (ETS), which puts a ceiling on carbon levels from aviation at their average levels between 2004-2006, comes into force for flights arriving and departing EU airports in 2012. That deal was clinched in Brussels in late 2008.
The EA will ensure that airlines monitor their emissions correctly in the run-up to 2012, and will then enforce the requirements of the scheme in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority.
“We
