The EU’s controversial decision to include aviation under the bloc’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) has been dubbed a “deal breaker” for global climate talks by India’s environment minister, Jayanthi Natarajan. While the minister is India’s lead negotitor at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks, it is not clear if her comments reflect official government policy.
Several countries - including EU member-state France - have expressed concern over the new aviation rule in the EU’s ETS, with India and China leading international resistance by forbidding their airlines from complying with the new standards. The Asian manufacturing giants say the aviation scheme overreaches Brussels’ jurisdiction and represents a unilateral trade levy disguised as an attempt to fight climate change.
While international criticism has been growing steadily since late last year, Natarajan’s comments are the first public comments from a major official to suggest the scheme could influence negotiations at global climate talks.
“I shall stick my neck out and say, for the environment ministry, yes the unilateral measure by the EU… is a deal breaker for the talks,” Natarajan said at a meeting hosted by the Energy Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi. “I strongly believe that as far as climate change discussions are concerned, this is unacceptable.”
16/04/12 International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
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