New Delhi A European Union law that charges airlines for carbon emissions is “a deal-breaker” for global climate change talks, environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan said, hardening her stance on a scheme that has drawn fierce opposition from non-EU governments.

From January 1, all airlines using EU airports have come under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). US airlines have said they would grudgingly comply, but China has barred its carriers from participating unless they are given permission to do so and India has said it would boycott the scheme.