INTERNATIONAL flights in and out of the European Union could be exempted from emissions limits for at least another four years to give the United Nations time to implement a global system to curb pollution from planes.

    The EU proposed extending the exemption, which was set to end at the start of 2017, on Friday to avoid a repeat of tensions when it tried to include all flights in 2012. But it was immediately criticized by environmental campaigners who oppose an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) deal struck in October on a global market-based measure for offsetting airline emissions.

    Airlines who back the ICAO deal, which will not be mandatory until 2027, welcomed the EU proposal as they want to avoid a patchwork of national and regional schemes.

    ICAO’s deal was seen as not being ambitious enough by the European Parliament, which along with member states, will have to approve the EU exemption proposal.

    It will also be reviewed by the European Commission as details on the implementation of the UN scheme become clear.

    The fate of the emissions trading system covering flights within Europe will also be assessed in the review, EU officials said, adding that all options were on the table, including dismantling it once the global system is in place to avoid double counting for flights within the bloc. “The EU is now focused on getting the global scheme up and running. We are serious about achieving carbon neutral growth for aviation worldwide, and we will provide technical support to make it happen,” Violeta Bulc, the EU’s transport commissioner, said.

    The EU had ordered carriers to buy credits for foreign flights under its ETS in 2012 but backtracked when countries said it violated their sovereignty and China threatened to cancel plane orders from Airbus Group.

    (SD-Agencies)