China tells airlines not to pay EU-imposed carbon emission charge

Jamaican Times (ANI) Monday 6th February, 2012

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has stopped Chinese airlines to pay charge on carbon emissions forced by the Europe Union (EU), and neither to hike freights, nor to add other fees accordingly without government's permission.

The CAAC said in a statement that the State's Council and China's cabinet has approved to notify the ban to all domestic airlines, Xinhua reports.

The statement said that the EU's decision to charge flights into and out of EU airports for carbon emission "runs contrary to relevant principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the international civil aviation regulations."

The EU's Emissions Trading Scheme, which took effect on January 1, is one of the widest-reaching measures accepted by any country or regional bloc to control emissions of greenhouse gases deemed dangerous for the climate.

"China objects to the EU's decision to impose the scheme on non-EU airlines, and has expressed its concerns over the scheme through various channels," the statement said.

The statement also mentioned that China would adopt all the required interests to protect interests of the Chinese companies.

"China will consider adopting necessary measures to protect interests of Chinese individuals and companies, pending the development of the issue," the statement added. (ANI)