With several nations opposing the European Union’s carbon tax on air travel, UK today sought a negotiated settlement to the issue through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“We want to see a negotiated outcome... ICAO should play much stronger role in leading to an agreed international outcome,” UK’s Minister of State for Environment and Climate Change Gregory Barker told PTI.

He was asked about Britain’s stand on the issue in the wake of Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan terming the 27-nation bloc’s step as “a deal breaker” for the ongoing climate talks.

Mr Barker also asked ICAO to play a “much stronger role” to reach a negotiated outcome to the issue that has been noted with “deep concern” by countries including India and China.

Both these nations are among several countries opposing the inclusion of international aviation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme under which the carbon tax has been imposed since January this year.

BASIC nations——Brazil, South Africa, India and China——had also issued a joint statement at the conclusion of its 10th ministerial meeting on Climate Change saying the EU measure “violates international law including the principles and provisions of UNFCCC and runs counter to multilateralism.”

Mr Barker clarified that the bloc was not imposing any carbon tax on any airline. The ETS was a trading scheme, which applies to all airlines flying to Europe, he said.

“Firstly, we are not imposing a carbon tax. It is a trading scheme. It applies equally to all airlines flying to Europe,” Mr Barker said reacting to a query.