China urges EU to drop aviation emission plan
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Xinhua, November 8, 2011
China's aviation watchdog on Tuesday urged the European Union to drop a plan that would require global airlines to buy carbon emission permits after a UN aviation agency adopted a resolution against the plan.
"We hope the EU will avoid this unilateral move, solve international aviation emissions issues and promote the sustainable development of the industry," an official with China's Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) spoke on condition of anonymity.
The CAAC welcomes and supports a resolution adopted by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding the issue, the official said.
The ICAO resolution, adopted at a meeting in Montreal last week, opposes the EU plan to force airlines to take part in the bloc's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
According to the EU plan, as of January 2012, airlines flying to or from the bloc will have to buy permits from the ETS at a cost of 15 percent of the carbon emissions they generate, with large fines for noncompliance.
The EU's move is unilateral in nature and violates a cardinal principle of state sovereignty, the resolution said.
China firmly opposed the EU plan at the meeting, saying the action contravenes international laws and ignores efforts made to tackle aviation emissions by other countries, especially developing countries.
The CAAC will participate in international negotiations to deal with climate change in an active and constructive way, the official said.
The EU plan is expected to increase costs for the global aviation industry and was challenged by U.S. airlines in the European Court of Justice in July for breaching international law.
