The EU announced on Saturday that a list of nearly 4,000 airlines that is says should cut down their environment from 2012 or risk being banned from European airports and airspace.

The green policy comes with great opposition from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which represents most of the worlds airlines, and companies which belong to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).   The new European law will come into force soon.

Under the new regulation, from the beginning of 2012, all airlines operating in the European Union will have to limit carbon dioxide emissions or face penalties.

Airlines would have to begin monitoring their carbon emissions by January 2010 according to the plans put forward this year.

CO2 emissions are often considered the major cause of greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.

The scientific body which assesses climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, claims that air traffic produces two percent of all carbon dioxide emissions from humans, and a total of 13 percent from transport.

The list was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Thanks to AFP or the above quotes and figures.  For more information visit their website.