California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico and Pennsylvania, as well as a variety of environmental groups are pushing for the federal government to curb global warming pollution from the aviation industry, which is responsible for about 3 percent of the country’s overall carbon emissions.
According to the petition,which was filed yesterday, the percentage is expected [...]

California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico and Pennsylvania, as well as a variety of environmental groups are pushing for the federal government to curb global warming pollution from the aviation industry, which is responsible for about 3 percent of the country’s overall carbon emissions.

According to the petition,which was filed yesterday, the percentage is expected to rise to 60 percent by 2025. It goes on to ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from domestic and foreign aircraft departing or landing at American airports, citing a historically “passive and unimaginative approach to combating global warming.”

The petition asks the EPA to develop rules to reduce aircraft emissions by requiring operators to boost fuel efficiency, use cleaner fuels or build lighter, more aerodynamic airplanes.

The Air Transport Association, which represents the country’s major airlines, said establishing a greenhouse gas emissions standard for aircraft engines was not necessary “when the commercial airlines already are driven to be as fuel efficient and environmentally conscious as possible.”

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