China calls for talks on EU airlines rule
China reiterated its opposition yesterday to a European Union plan to limit airline carbon dioxide emissions and called for talks to resolve the issue a day after its major airlines refused to pay any carbon costs under the new law.
From Sunday, all airlines using EU airports have been brought into the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), alongside EU utilities and heavy industry.
Any airlines that do not comply face fines of 100 euros (US$128) for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted for which they have not surrendered allowances. In the case of persistent offenders, the EU has the right to ban airlines from its airports.
"China opposes the European Union's unilateral legislation. China has expressed to the EU our deep concern and opposition many times on a bilateral level," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
"We hope the EU can take careful precautions with a cautious and practical attitude, and regarding those aspects involving China, appropriately discuss and handle this matter," Hong said at a regular briefing.
The EU's carbon trading scheme was launched in 2005 as one of the pillars of Europe's efforts to combat climate change.
Following a December ruling from Europe's highest court that inclusion of airlines in the ETS was valid, China's Xinhua news agency warned that a trade war may be looming.
The United States has also raised the prospect of retaliation, while a draft law in the US Congress proposes to make it illegal to comply with the EU law.
From Sunday, all airlines using EU airports have been brought into the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), alongside EU utilities and heavy industry.
Any airlines that do not comply face fines of 100 euros (US$128) for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted for which they have not surrendered allowances. In the case of persistent offenders, the EU has the right to ban airlines from its airports.
"China opposes the European Union's unilateral legislation. China has expressed to the EU our deep concern and opposition many times on a bilateral level," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
"We hope the EU can take careful precautions with a cautious and practical attitude, and regarding those aspects involving China, appropriately discuss and handle this matter," Hong said at a regular briefing.
The EU's carbon trading scheme was launched in 2005 as one of the pillars of Europe's efforts to combat climate change.
Following a December ruling from Europe's highest court that inclusion of airlines in the ETS was valid, China's Xinhua news agency warned that a trade war may be looming.
The United States has also raised the prospect of retaliation, while a draft law in the US Congress proposes to make it illegal to comply with the EU law.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证:沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证:31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证:0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证:沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证:沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.