EU moves toward imposition of emissions trading: timeline

The European Union's bid to include aviation in its controversial emissions trading scheme from 1 January 2012 came a step closer to reality today. The European Court of Justice advocate general has concluded that the plan to force non-EU airlines to acquire and surrender emission allowances to fly to or from the European Union does not fall foul of international law. The opinion is not binding on the court, but likely to guide a ruling that would pave the way for Europe to impose the scheme from 1 January 2012.

See our interactive timeline of the plan, which has been the subject of fierce clashes between Europe, ICAO, the Air Transport Association of America and the US government since it was first proposed in 2005.