The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that emissions from commercial jets cause climate change, endangering the public’s health and welfare.
“Today’s action supports the goals of the President’s Climate Action Plan to reduce emissions from large sources of carbon pollution,” the EPA said in a press release.
The announcement is the first step in regulating the emissions from commercial airlines that most scientists say are to blame for manmade climate change. The regulations fall in step with the agency’s efforts to regulate the emissions from cars, trucks and power plants. The EPA says it is excluding military and smaller aircraft from the regulations.
The agency also is taking action to support a United Nations process for regulating carbon dioxide from jets by 2016, called the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The EPA’s power plant rules have been contentious for the potential impact they would have on energy prices. Some says the aircraft rules, as well, could lead to higher airfares.
Commercial aircraft account for 11 percent of the nation’s carbon emissions and 29 percent of global emissions, according to the EPA.
