BRUSSELS, Dec 23 (Reuters) – Europe’s highest court
this week gave its full backing to an EU law, meaning all
airlines will have to pay to offset carbon emissions for flights
in and out of Europe from Jan. 1, drawing anger from the United
States and China.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency warned of a trade war
over the inclusion of airlines in the EU’s Emissions Trading
Scheme (ETS), although the foreign ministry stated its
opposition less stridently and called on the European Union to
talk to other governments.

BRUSSELS, Dec 23 (Reuters) – Europe’s highest court
this week gave its full backing to an EU law, meaning all
airlines will have to pay to offset carbon emissions for flights
in and out of Europe from Jan. 1, drawing anger from the United
States and China.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency warned of a trade war
over the inclusion of airlines in the EU’s Emissions Trading
Scheme (ETS), although the foreign ministry stated its
opposition less stridently and called on the European Union to
talk to other governments.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Brussels has long been defined by trade. Once it was a crossroads where silk and tapestries changed hands. Now it’s the capital of Europe for the exchange of ideas and extremely tough negotiations, especially of late.

Forty-eight hours is barely time to scratch the surface of past and present identities, but correspondents with local knowledge offer tips on how to make the best of a short stay.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Brussels has long been defined by trade. Once it was a crossroads where silk and tapestries changed hands. Now it’s the capital of Europe for the exchange of ideas and extremely tough negotiations, especially of late.

Forty-eight hours is barely time to scratch the surface of past and present identities, but correspondents with local knowledge offer tips on how to make the best of a short stay.

LUXEMBOURG/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Europe’s highest court gave unreserved backing on Wednesday to an EU law to charge airlines for carbon emissions on flights to and from Europe, a decision likely to escalate tension with trading partners, especially the United States.

The court ruled against a group of U.S. airlines who had challenged a law requiring that all airlines flying to and from European Union airports will have to buy permits under the EU’s emissions trading scheme from January 1. The initial cost is expected to be minimal but would rise to an estimated 9 billion euros (8 billion pounds) by the end of 2020.

LUXEMBOURG/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Europe’s highest court gave unreserved backing on Wednesday to a hotly contested EU law charging airlines for carbon emissions on flights to and from Europe, a decision likely to escalate tensions with the United States and other trading partners.

All airlines flying to and from EU airports will have to buy permits under the European Union’s emissions trading scheme from January 1, the European Court of Justice ECJ.L ruled.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Denmark said Europe’s financial crisis was the chance to transform the region into a much greener economy as it set out priorities Monday for its forthcoming European Union presidency beginning in January.

“We are facing the worst economic crisis since World War II. We are heading toward a 6 degree increase in temperature. Commodity prices are heading through the roof. We need to do something,” Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building Martin Lidegaard said on the sidelines of a meeting of environment ministers.

BRUSSELS, Dec 19 (Reuters) – Denmark said Europe’s
financial crisis was the chance to transform the region into a
much greener economy as it set out priorities on Monday for its
forthcoming European Union presidency beginning in January.

“We are facing the worst economic crisis since World War II.
We are heading towards a 6 degree increase in temperature.
Commodity prices are heading through the roof. We need to do
something,” Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building
Martin Lidegaard said on the sidelines of a meeting of
environment ministers.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European politicians are expected on Tuesday to vote through an amendment that could pave the way for the first direct intervention in the carbon market, which has sunk to record lows.

Businesses and environmentalists have heaped pressure on the European Commission to find a way of strengthening the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A shift to renewable energy would ultimately cost around the same as business as usual and the EU needs to make progress on setting a 2030 target for greener fuel soon, the bloc’s energy commissioner said.

Guenther Oettinger was laying out the European Union’s latest road map for mostly eliminating carbon from the fuel mix by 2050 and guiding investors beyond the Commission’s existing set of energy goals.