A European Union law that charges airlines for carbon emissions is "a deal-breaker" for global climate change talks, India's environment minister said, hardening her stance on a scheme that has dra

The Minister for Environment and Forests, Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, on Wednesday termed the European Union’s emission tax on airlines as a “unilateral" decision.

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.

After the differences at Durban over carbon reduction, India has an opportunity to mend fences with the least developed countries.

European Union ambassadors failed to resolve a dispute over the allocation of seats on the United Nations' Green Climate Fund (GCF) board on Friday, possibly undermining the bloc's credibility in i

Coal-reliant Poland on Friday vetoed European Union efforts to move further towards a low carbon economy, pitting itself against the rest of the 27-member bloc.