China maintains firm stance on ETS
China will continue to oppose the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), despite warnings that the country’s airlines may face heavy fines for non-compliance.
The China Air Transport Association was reported saying on Thursday that carriers “will not abide by the system without being ordered to by the government”.
“Chinese airlines’ opposition to the Emissions Trading Scheme has not changed,” the China Daily reported the association’s Deputy Secretary-General, Chai Haibo, as saying. “The government has not released any new orders pertaining to this issue, so the carriers will follow the current orders.”
Chinese airlines, apparently following government advice, have been withholding their carbon data from EU authorities. The EU recently gave eight Chinese airlines until mid-June to submit the data, or face penalties. But the country’s major carriers appear unconcerned.
“Chinese airlines will march in step with the government and we are not worried about the EU’s warning,” said Luo Zhuping, Secretary of the China Eastern Airlines board.
China has also suspended all orders of Airbus wide-body jets in retaliation.
IATA’s Secretary-General & CEO, Tony Tyler, who is in Beijing this week, said he “fully understood” the Chinese position, but urged the country and the EU to work out a solution and avoid a trade war.