China continues opposition to EU emissions scheme

Gonzalez stressed that apart from market-based measures, the organization also considers technical and operational measures as well as alternative fuel, which can all help achieve the goal.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has invested at least 600 million yuan ($95 million) since 2007 on renovating facilities to reduce the aviation industry's consumption and emission, said CAAC head Li.

Data showed that thanks to the measures, the country's aviation industry's energy consumption has been reduced by 9 percent, he said.

One example is that major airports in China have updated facilities in the past few years to allow planes to recharge from ground electricity sources after landing.

In the past, planes used to recharge via engines, which increases emissions, said Zhong Ning, the CAAC's publicity official.

Buying new planes to replace old ones and optimizing airspace management are also effective measures China has taken to reduce airplane emissions, she said.

The EU asked airlines to submit their emission data before the end of April 2012.

Connie Hedegaard, the EU's commissioner for climate action, said on May 15 that only eight Chinese airlines and two Indian airlines have yet to submit their emission data to the EU. She warned that the EU would impose punishments on them if they do not report the data by mid-June.

Baldwin on Wednesday declined to comment on what punitive measures the EU would pose on airlines that do not comply, saying it "will deal with the issue when it comes due".

xindingding@chinadaily.com.cn