The European Union buries its international aviation carbon tax

From day one it was clear that the European Union would would lose the fight for its unlawful, costly and useless international aviation carbon tax. Today the EU überwarmist, climate change commissioner Connie Hedegaard was forced to beat a hasty retreat. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the arrogant former Danish journalist, who until recently has had nothing good to say about the opponents to the stupid EU tax: 

The European Union executive caved in to critics of its contested carbon tax on air travel Monday, offering to "stop the clock" and freeze the measure for a year on flights to and from non-European nations.

The EU's climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard said at a hastily arranged news conference that she had just recommended in a phone conversation with the 27 EU nations that the tax be suspended in the interests of negotiating a global CO2 deal.

"Finally we have a chance to get an international regulation on emissions from aviation," Hedegaard said, referring to progress on the matter at a Friday meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal.

"But let me be very clear: if this exercise does not deliver -- and I hope it does -- then needless to say we are back to where we are today with the EU ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme). Automatically!" she stressed.

The suspension of the CO2 tax would affect flights "to and from non-European countries", meaning European airlines will continue to pay.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) was quick to celebrate the announcement, with IATA chief Tony Tyler saying in a statement that it "represents a significant step in the right direction and creates an opportunity for the international community".

"The commission's pragmatic decision clearly recognises the progress that has been made towards a global solution for managing aviation's carbon emissions," Tyler said.

"The flexibility shown by the European Commission demonstrates that the ICAO process is working," he added.

Hedegaard said she had recommended "stopping the clock for one year", until after the next ICAO general assembly in autumn 2013, due to signs at Friday's ICAO talks of a move towards a global deal, or "market-based mechanism".

The EU imposed the scheme on January 1, but 26 of ICAO's 36 members, including India, Russia, China and the United States, have opposed the move, saying it violates international law.

The EU tax forces airlines operating in the bloc, whatever their flag, to buy 15 percent of their carbon emissions, or 32 million tonnes, to help battle global warming.

The talk about a one year "freeze" is of course nothing but a face saving operation for Mme Hedegaard and her warmist friends. The reality is that the EU carbon tax is dead and buried, and will never return. The ICAO will probably agree on something, but that something is not going to be anywhere close to the stupid EU tax.