Carbon Tax Turns Into Windfall For Airlines

Airlines are collecting a carbon tax to comply with a European Union law that has yet to go into effect. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Did you know that if you fly to Europe, you pay a tax to offset the carbon your flight emits?

The nonprofit group Transport & Environment found that last year, airlines in the U.S. collected as much as a billion dollars from its passengers to comply with a European Union law that has yet to go into effect.

• New York Times: Your Biggest Carbon Sin May Be Air Travel
• Transportation & Environment: Airlines’ Billion-Dollar Bonanza Underscores Need for Real Climate Action

Guest:

• Elisabeth Rosenthal, covers environment issues and health for The New York Times. She tweets @nytrosenthal.