Europe Halts International ETS Implementation
China has stood at the forefront of an increasingly bitter dispute over Europe’s insistence on imposing its emissions trading scheme on non-European carriers such as China Eastern Airlines, but now the European Commission has backed off. (Photo: Airbus)
China has stood at the forefront of an increasingly bitter dispute over Europe’s insistence on imposing its emissions trading scheme on non-European carriers such as China Eastern Airlines, but now the European Commission has backed off. (Photo: Airbus)

The European Commission has suspended the implementation of its emissions trading scheme (ETS) for international flights in and out of the European Union for 12 months on the grounds that it now expects to see a deal on a multilateral global alternative at the next ICAO Assembly in September/October 2013. EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard announced the move on November 12 in response to a November 9 decision by the ICAO Council to press ahead with plans for a globally agreed version of the ETS. Non-EU operators now won’t have to submit carbon allowances next April, nor will they have to monitor, report and verify emissions. However, the ETS will still apply to flights within Europe.

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