Environment Minister Open To Airplane Carbon Tax On Fares

Minister for the Environment Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson is eager to explore every option when it comes to responding to the climate crisis, RÚV reports. Amongst the ideas he is considering is enacting a carbon tax on airfares that are adjusted according to the level of pollution from the flight itself.

The carbon tax on airline flights has been a reality in the European Union for years. Iceland is not in the European Union, and some airlines find ways around the tax, but Guðmundur says he is open to the possibility.

“I think this is a good idea,” he told reporters. “It’s interesting. Especially considering that it came from air services themselves, both airlines and airports. That shows that there is a voluntary willingness to take part in the huge project that [curtailing] the climate crisis is.”

Guðmundur added that the Ministry of Tourism has also been involved in researching how to execute the idea in Iceland. Exact details, such as how the tax would be calculated from the emissions of any given flight to and from Iceland, still need to be ironed out. Nothing is carved in stone, but the Minister is open to anything.

“I find all of this a possibility, as we need to examine every idea when it comes to the climate crisis,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how it develops, both at home and abroad.”