Bill on global warming opposed

The trucking industry in the US is voicing its concern over the government’s bills on global warming. The bills refer to emission trading, commonly known as cap-and-trade, under which the limits will be set by permit allocation for per tonne of pollutant emitted. Excess or deficit emissions could be bought and sold by firms themselves. The truckers fear that the proposed legislation, if implemented, will bring about an array of local, State and regional regulations, ultimately leading to further hike in the diesel price. As it has been pointed out, one per cent rise in the average price of diesel costs the trucking industry an additional $391 million in fuel consumption which, in the US, more than doubled in the past four years. American Trucking Association, it is learnt, has urged the House Committee on Energy & Commerce to consider blanket exemption to interstate transport of goods involving long-haul trucking. While the cap-and-trade programme might be effectively applied to stationary sources, but not so for extremely-diversified mobile sources such as trucking, it is pointed out.