BRUSSELS — European Union authorities said Monday that they would halt for one year the enforcement of a law charging airlines for greenhouse gas emissions, potentially removing one of the most contentious issues clouding trade relations with China, India and the United States.
The system had generated intense opposition among foreign governments, which accused Europe of violating the sovereignty of other countries and unfairly raising the costs paid by airlines from developing countries by imposing its environmental standards on the rest of the world.
Europe had insisted that its law was necessary because the rest of world had dragged its feet for more than a decade on measures to control pollution from air traffic, which represents about 3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions and is growing much faster than efficiency gains are cutting those emissions.
Connie Hedegaard, the EU climate commissioner, said at a news conference Monday that she had asked the Union’s 27 governments to “stop the clock” on the system for one year, relieving international airlines using European airports from making the first payments that were due under the law.
Hedegaard said her recommendation followed a meeting Friday at the International Civil Aviation Organization, an arm of the United Nations, at which member states decided to set up a policy group to agree on a global, market-based system for regulating emissions.
“In short, finally we have a chance to get an international regulation on emissions from aviation,” Hedegaard said. “This is progress.”
But she threatened to reimpose the rule if there was not sufficient progress in establishing a global system.
In reality, Hedegaard’s decision was a long-awaited retreat by the Europeans in the face of concerted international opposition including refusals to participate in the system by airlines like China Eastern and Air India, and moves by U.S. lawmakers to bar their airlines from making payments.
But the re-election of President Barack Obama last week made Hedegaard’s decision easier because Obama is expected to help in the push for a global system.
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