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EU to freeze carbon emission fee plan
Source: Agencies |
November 14, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE European Union will freeze for a year its rule that all airlines must pay for their carbon emissions for flights into and out of EU airports, following threats of international retaliation.
Flights within the EU will still have to pay for their carbon emissions. The year-long exemption will apply to flights linking EU airports to countries outside the bloc, a move welcomed by United States and Asian officials.
EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said she had agreed "to stop the clock" to create a positive atmosphere for international talks on an alternative global plan to tackle airline emissions. "But let me be very clear: if this exercise does not deliver - and I hope it does - then, needless to say, we are back to where we are today with the EU ETS (emissions trading scheme). Automatically."
The US, China and India have put intense pressure on the EU. Debate in the US Congress is set to resume this week on legislation to counter the EU rules.
"While I am pleased the EU has temporarily suspended its efforts to unilaterally impose a tax on our airlines flying over US and international airspace, the EU's announcement does not rule out future efforts to tax foreign carriers," US Senator John Thune said.
China likewise also opposed what it said was the EU's unilateral move and prefers to work under mechanisms such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
"China always maintains that under the multilateral mechanism, such as the UNFCCC, ... international cooperation should be carried out to tackle climate change," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
Flights within the EU will still have to pay for their carbon emissions. The year-long exemption will apply to flights linking EU airports to countries outside the bloc, a move welcomed by United States and Asian officials.
EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said she had agreed "to stop the clock" to create a positive atmosphere for international talks on an alternative global plan to tackle airline emissions. "But let me be very clear: if this exercise does not deliver - and I hope it does - then, needless to say, we are back to where we are today with the EU ETS (emissions trading scheme). Automatically."
The US, China and India have put intense pressure on the EU. Debate in the US Congress is set to resume this week on legislation to counter the EU rules.
"While I am pleased the EU has temporarily suspended its efforts to unilaterally impose a tax on our airlines flying over US and international airspace, the EU's announcement does not rule out future efforts to tax foreign carriers," US Senator John Thune said.
China likewise also opposed what it said was the EU's unilateral move and prefers to work under mechanisms such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
"China always maintains that under the multilateral mechanism, such as the UNFCCC, ... international cooperation should be carried out to tackle climate change," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
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