China joins anti-ETS lobby

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Wednesday, 16 June 2010

After threatening last year to cancel flights to Europe, China's aviation sector has instead joined a US counterpart in voicing opposition to the EU's plan to impose a carbon cap and trade scheme from 2012.

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) already has questioned the legality of the scheme. It also says foreign airlines in the EU ETS will face unfair costs.

ATA last month won approval in the UK High Court to proceed with a legal challenge to the extension of the EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) to international aviation.

Now Liu Shaoyong, director-general of the China Air Transport Association (CATA), has added weight to the ATA claims, saying the rules have an unfair impact on fast-growing economies with carriers flying into Europe.

Airlines expanding the number of flights to Europe will pay more for their carbon emissions allowances than mature carriers with little growth, the Chinese say.

From 2012 to 2020, the Chinese aviation sector will face a total bill of approximately US$2.5 billion, according to Chinese estimates.