The Minister for Environment and Forests, Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, on Wednesday termed the European Union’s emission tax on airlines as a “unilateral" decision.
She said in the backdrop of global efforts to tackle climate change challenges, the EU’s tax on international airlines was a “deal breaker”. The Minister was speaking at a TERI event here on Wednesday.
Ms Natarajan alleged that the 27-member EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) on airlines had been imposed in a “disguised” manner in the name of climate change, and added that she had written a letter to EU Commissioner for Climate Change demanding a reversal of the carbon tax.
On climate change, Ms Natarajan said: “In Durban, India played an extremely constructive role...We have a vital stake as we are vulnerable to climate change. It is critical for us to keep going and have a fair share and access to clean energy.”
Meanwhile, The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) said its Climate Change Forum would promote informed discussion on the Prime Minister’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, state-level plans, other domestic responses, inter-linkages between climate change and trade, intellectual property rights, human rights etc.
Dr R.K Pachauri, Director General, TERI, said that there were many scientific options available to help the country understand the challenges and guide other societies as well.