In a surprise move China exits the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. The pact aims to reduce emissions from international flights. Environmentalists say that the presence of China and the United States in the pact is fundamental.
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - China has dropped out from the agreement to reduce emissions from international flights. The United Nations aviation agency has announced that Beijing does not appear on the list of 29 participants in the preliminary phase of the pact proposed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The pilot phase should start in 2021. It is not clear why China has decided to exit the pact. Environmentalists say the participation of the Asian country in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia) is fundamental.
The agreement calls on airlines to limit emissions or offset them by funding environmental projects worldwide. "In the coming months, Europe will work with its ICAO partners to find a way to address China's concerns, without compromising the environmental integrity of the agreement and to keep this important country on board," says a source. And he continues: "China wants its national projects to be economically viable".
The United States is still in the pact and the US Federal Aviation Administration declares that it will continue to work on "the implementation of Corsia". It is estimated that Corsia will cost airlines between 1.5 and 6.2 billion dollars in 2025, depending on future fuel prices. "We are disappointed that the Chinese government has decided not to participate in the Corsia pilot phase," said Michael Gill, executive director of the Air Transport Action Group.