India, others slam EU aviation cap
February 14th, 2012 - 11:10 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) The BASIC countries — Brazil, South Africa, India and China - Tuesday criticised the European Union’s (EU) “stubbornness” to go ahead with its aviation cap, saying such unilateral action will jeopardise international efforts to combat climate change.
In a joint statement issued after the 10th meeting of the quartet here, the countries expressed deep concern and reiterated their firm opposition to the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) that came into effect Jan 1.
India along with US, China and many other countries have been opposing EU-ETS. Under the scheme, airlines using EU airspace will have to pay a fee for carbon emissions that exceed a set limit.
“Ministers noted that the unilateral action by the EU in the name of climate change was taken despite strong international opposition and would seriously jeopardise the international efforts to combat climate change,” said the joint statement.
The ministers recognised the threat of similar unilateral measures being considered by developed countries in the name of climate change in the area of international shipping.
“We view it as a severe breach of multilateral climate change convention and other international laws. We are united and will take joint action to oppose it,” said India’s Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan.
China’s chief climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua said: “After EU”s proposal, China has been approaching them at different levels but it continues to be stubborn. We hope that we can work together to stick to multi-lateral principle and not take unilateral trade measures.”
The grouping also discussed outcomes of the climate change talks in Durban and the road ahead.
- 'EU aviation tax deal breaker in climate change talks' (Lead) - Apr 11, 2012
- Indian carriers have provided carbon emission data: EU - Feb 03, 2012
- Britain for negotiated settlement of aviation tax - Apr 19, 2012
- Differences continue in Durban, China offers conditional deal - Dec 05, 2011
- Deadlock over Kyoto Protocol's extension persists at Durban - Dec 06, 2011
- China agrees to conditional legal emission cuts post-2020 - Dec 05, 2011
- `Developing nations climate change victims' - Mar 10, 2010
- China bars airlines from paying EU carbon emission charge - Feb 06, 2012
- ICAO adopts India's stand against EU aviation norms - Nov 11, 2011
- EU tax unacceptable in climate change talks: India - Apr 11, 2012
- Carbon tax on aviation sector not deal breaker: EU - Apr 12, 2012
- India's proposal part of new negotiating draft in Durban - Dec 07, 2011
- India gets its way as climate summit ends - Dec 11, 2011
- No backing away on emission cap for aviation sector: EU - Oct 04, 2011
- EU's emissions plans for aviation disappointing: IATA - Dec 21, 2011
Tags: airspace, carbon emissions, climate change convention, climate change talks, criticised, developed countries, durban, emission trading, environment minister, feb 14, international efforts, international opposition, international shipping, jayanthi, jayanthi natarajan, negotiator, quartet, stubbornness, unilateral action, unilateral measures