Chinese airlines to sue EU over emissions scheme

11 Nov 2011

1

Beijing/Brussels: China is working on a two-pronged counter to the European Union's move to bring international carriers under its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), under which all airlines will be charged for emissions on a graded scale. The Chinese air carrier's association has said it will move court, and also adopt other retaliatory measures.

The hard line stance from the China Air Transport Association, which represents all major Chinese airlines, is in consonance with the position adopted by other nations with regard to the European Commission's course of action. The United States has already moved court and threatened legislative action and India along with a large number of nations has expressed strong disapproval of EC's policy.

China's hardening of position comes even as EC's date for bringing the aviation sector under the ETS nears. The scheme becomes applicable for the aviation industry from 1 January 2012.

Cai Haibo, deputy secretary-general with CATA, was quoted by a financial daily as saying his organisation intended to sue the Commission in Europe before the end of this year. He said application of the ETS violated the basic principles of international law and infringed principles of sovereignty.

Europe's climate commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, in turn, expressed confidence that legalities were on the Commission's side.

The Commission has acknowledged that talks with Beijing to resolve the dispute under a clause in the ETS regulations that allows carriers from specific countries to be exempted if they can prove they are taking equivalent measures to limit their emissions had broken down.

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