You Mean 1 Euro Doesn't Include the Carbon Cost?

The European Union is engaged in debate over what to do about aviation and their new carbon trading system. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the discount airlines. I traveled on them extensively when I was in Europe. However, the mere thought that they would be excluded from any sort of carbon pricing system is absurd. Europeans are using discount airlines not only for recreational travel but also to get cheap labour from the poorer East to the richer West without the bother of actual immigration. Work the week in England, fly back to Poland for the weekend. The discount airlines have become a crucial part of the continent's economy. Thus, a tax on air travel might actually force Europeans to change their ways, perish the thought. The EU's incessant holier than thou attitude on climate change would be a lot more bearable if they weren't so afraid of doing anything that would actually negatively impact on any of their citizens. There has been some leadership within the EU (particularly in Scandinavia) on climate change. This, on the other hand, smacks of the same kind of nimbyism which limits the climate change debate on this side of the pond. You would think a non-democratic instituion like the EU (the European Parliament is about as legitimate and powerful as the Canadian senate) would have a little more luck dealing with angry voters. Hey, if they can exclude air travel, why can't we exclude oil production? They are both major polluters after all.