EU puts airline emissions rule on hold

China says that the organization's move is 'a step in the right direction'

China has welcomed a European Union decision not to immediately charge airlines that use airports within EU borders for their carbon emissions in the hope that a better system can be devised.

Connie Hedegaard, EU climate commissioner, said on Monday the EU will put its emissions rules applying to overseas airlines on hold for a year to let the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization find an alternative way to curb emission increases.

Li Gao, deputy director-general of climate change at the National Development and Reform Commission, said the move was "a step in the right direction".

"This result was reached under pressure from all interested parties and fully shows that unilateral measures are not a good way to deal with climate change issues," Li said.

The EU, because of its insistence that overseas airlines using airports within its borders come under its emissions trading system, has been the subject of intense international pressure as of late.

The United States, Russia, China, India and other countries have all expressed strong opposition to the emissions rule.

Xia Xinghua, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said the UN International Civil Aviation Organization is the best forum for discussing these matters.

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