The threat of a trade war will not make the European Union back down on climate legislation, Connie Hedegaard, the bloc’s climate chief, said yesterday in reply to pressure by foreign governments who want the EU to drop plans to charge airlines for carbon emissions.
Interviewed by the Financial Times, Ms Hedegaard, the commissioner for climate action, said the bloc was determined to work with the US, China and other nations to reach international agreement to curb airlines’ emissions. But she emphasised commercial threats would not sway Brussels: “You can’t threaten a trade war just because you don’t like European legislation.”
The EU’s policy to require all carriers to pay for their carbon emissions for flights that take off or land in the 27-member bloc have met fierce resistance by non-European governments. India is the latest country to consider asking its airlines to defy the measure.