Airlines agree to UN Pollution Plan

Airline companies agree to UN pollution plan.

At least 60 nations have agreed to a new deal that caps international flight emissions at 2020 levels.

The accord is the first global climate pact to target a single industry, and requires companies to offset their emissions growth by funding environmental initiatives.

Airlines will not be forced to cut their pollution but must instead compensate for any emissions growth after the Agreement begins in 2020 by buying credits that back renewable energy development, forest preservation or other environmental measures.

Large trade groups from the aviation industry, including United Continental Holdings Inc and Boeing Co., have urged nations to join the agreement despite the annual forecasted cost of $24 billion to its companies.

Gas emissions from international flights account for approximately 2 per cent of global greenhouse gases, and are currently forecast to triple by 205

Read the ClimateAction story -“Airlines agree to UN Pollution Plan.”

Fance and China together take major climate step

I

t all depends on how you look at it.

French President, Francois Hollande.

On Monday, the presidents of France and China stood side by side to emphasize their commitment to tackling climate change, agreeing that countries signing on to a proposed global climate pact should take stock of their progress every five years with a view to regularly ratcheting up their emissions-cutting targets.

French President François Hollande called Monday’s announcement a major, historic step that “laid down the conditions for success” at global climate talks due to start in Paris in four weeks. Greenpeace termed it incremental progress that highlighted the “ambition gap” the world still needs to bridge.

Read The Washington Post story - “China tries to recast itself as a global leader in climate-change fight.”