China welcomes proposed freezing of EU carbon tax on airlines: FM spokesman

 BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Foreign Ministry¹ spokesman on Tuesday said China approves of a possible freeze for the carbon emission² tax on airlines proposed by the EU Commission.

"We have noticed a relevant official's remarks and we welcome the freeze," spokesman Hong Lei said.

The commission on Monday proposed freezing the carbon emission tax on non-EU flights for a year. Flights within the EU will still be taxed for carbon emissions³.

The European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) system requires all airlines flying in EU airspace to pay a tax on 15 percent of their total carbon emissions for 2012, a move that has triggered global opposition⁴.

EU Climate Commissioner⁵ Connie Hedegaard said she agreed to stop the clock on the tax, adding that she hopes a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will result in an alternative global agreement to tackle airline emissions.

If negotiators fail to reach a consensus⁶ after one year, the charges could be reimposed immediately, she said.

Hong said China believes that the international community should deal with climate change through multilateral mechanisms⁷, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in accordance with the principles and rules of the convention.

However, Hong stressed that China will not accept the EU Commission's attempts to link its unilateral policy with global processes.

He added that China will continue to work with all countries to actively⁸ deal with climate change through multilateral mechanisms, such as the UN convention and the ICAO.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。