Chinese, Indian airlines flout EU carbon tax

Chinese and Indian airlines have not complied with the new EU carbon tax while all other nations have, Reuters reported. Eight Chinese airlines and two Indian airlines have not reported emissions under the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by the March 31 deadline. “We have given them [India and China] until mid-June to report back their data,” EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said. Hedegaard did not identify the air carriers by name. The penalty for failure to comply is EUR100 (US$127) per metric ton of carbon, and the EU could choose to ban repeat offenders from flying to Europe. The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will meet next month to consider creating a global system to reduce airline emissions at the commission’s request, in the hopes of reducing tensions. At least 20 countries are opposed the ETS system, with many objecting to the EU enforcing its laws on other countries.