The European Union will freeze for a year its rule that all airlines must pay for their carbon emissions for flights into and out of EU airports, the EU executive said, following threats of international retaliation.
Flights within the European Union will still have to pay for their carbon emissions. The year-long exemption will apply to flights linking EU airports to countries outside of the bloc.
Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said she had agreed "to stop the clock" to create a positive atmosphere for international talks on an alternative global plan to tackle airline emissions.
"But let me be very clear: if this exercise does not deliver - and I hope it does - then needless to say we are back to where we are today with the EU ETS. Automatically."
The United States, China and India have put intense pressure on the European Union. Debate in the U.S. Congress is set to resume this week on legislation to counter the EU rules.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) was quick to celebrate an EU announcement Monday offering to suspend a controversial carbon tax on air travel for flights to and from non-European nations.
The announcement by EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard that she had recommended that the EU "stop the clock" for a year on the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) "represents a significant step in the right direction and creates an opportunity for the international community," IATA chief Tony Tyler said in a statement.
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