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The Union Cabinet is likely to soon
pass a resolution endorsing the fact that Indian airliners would not share
their specific carbon emission data with European Union (EU) authorities. This
will be the first time since the imbroglio began over the buzz that government
was going to officially communicate to the EU that it would not adhere to the
latter’s changed emission trading system (ETS) laws.
While around 35 countries have
refused to follow the EU’s new directives on carbon emission, only India and
China have even refused to share their carbon emission data with Brussels. The
government is also likely to indicate it is open to the idea of reviewing all
the separate bilateral agreements on civil aviation that India has with each of
the 27 member-states of the EU, a senior official involved with the issue told
Business Standard
The government has also hinted at
strong retaliation if the EU imposes severe penalties on Indian air carriers.
The official noted the number of flights European airlines operate in India are
more than thrice the number that India operates to Europe. Also not ruled out
is taking the issue to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement
body, as the “last resort”.
TAKE-OFF TROUBLE
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“The Cabinet will endorse the
decision that India will not share its data. If need be, we are also open to
the idea of reviewing the bilateral arrangements on aviation with each of the
member-states and find an amicable solution to this problem. We are open to sit
on the negotiating table and explore ways to mitigate the issue,” the official,
who refused to be identified, said.
The cabinet will also officially
communicate to the EU that it would not be party to any sort of “extra
territorial imposition”. Only the guidelines being worked out under the United
Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would be followed.
The latter talks, to put a cap on carbon emission by international airliners,
have been on for the past 15 years at the ICAO and remain inconclusive. As a
result, the EU had come up with its own rules to check the emission targets of
all airlines polluting the European skies.
Earlier, the EU had threatened India
and China with a ban on their airlines from European skies. However, last
month, the EU spokesman for climate action, Isaac Valero Ladron, had told
Business Standard that it would impose financial penalties, not ban the
airlines.
The 27-member bloc had decided to
include the aviation sector under the EU ETS in January this year. Since then,
it has asked all domestic and foreign airlines to comply with the changed laws
and share their respective carbon emission data with Brussels. These airlines
would now need to follow a specific benchmark on carbon emission or pay a carbon
tax, as well as face penalties. While other countries have shared their data,
India and China have refused to do so.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cabinet-to-back-airlines-no-to-eu-carbon-tax/480078/
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