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China's civil aviation authorities have banned all airlines in the country from participating in the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said in a statement that under instruction by the State Council, it is urging China's airlines not to pay EU a charge on carbon emissions, and neither to hike freights nor to add other fees accordingly without government permission.

EU's decision to charge flights that pass through EU airports for carbon emission "runs contrary to relevant principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the international civil aviation regulations," according to the CAAC.

CAAC has made it clear that "China will consider adopting necessary measures to protect interests of Chinese individuals and companies, pending the development of the issue."

This is the latest move in a series of Chinese protests since the controversial European policy to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for climate change came into effect on January 1.

It is estimated that around 4,000 airlines will have to pay the EU a charge on flights in its airspace based on carbon emissions.

Source: RTTNews