An aviation conference in Beijing on Wednesday saw leaders of the industry voice strong concern over a European Union (EU) plan to tax international airlines for carbon emissions, and an EU official signal a more flexible attitude from the bloc.

Chinese and US aviation authorities and industry associations reiterated opposition to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) at the 2012 China Civil Aviation Development Forum, urging the EU to take a global and comprehensive approach to the issue.

China's civil aviation authority on Wednesday reiterated its opposition to the European Union's imposition of an emissions trading scheme on global aviation, despite a threat from the EU last week to punish Chinese airlines for not cooperating.

As talks have so far proven futile, the parties involved expect that a framework of market-based measures, which will be submitted next year to the International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly for review, might put an end to disputes over the issue.

RESIDENTS of areas hit by natural disasters such as cyclones and storms could face carbon tax bills for the greenhouse emissions arising from rubbish created by the disaster, a Senate estimates hearing was told yesterday.

The revelation came as the government released a list of 104 local councils it believes may have to pay the tax because of the carbon emissions from rubbish dumps, 46 of which are in NSW and 21 in Victoria.

Even as opinions are divided over the feasibility of such a measure, fissures have already emerged within the Australian polity over the imposition of the controversial carbon tax from July 1 this year.

The New South Wales (NSW) government has opposed the introduction of the carbon tax by the federal government led by Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. In reply to queries posed by The Hindu, NSW Minister of Resources and Energy and Central Coast, Christopher Hartcher said the NSW government does not support the introduction of the carbon tax by the federal government. “The government is concerned about the impact on cost of living for NSW families and businesses

After years of wrenching debate, a carbon tax on Australian industry starts in July, but instead of bringing much-needed investment certainty, the scheme is delivering the opposite.

Much of Australian's power sector is struggling to access cheap, long-term financing on worries over the future of the carbon tax scheme, which is meant to provide a long-term price signal to encourage industries to cut their emissions.

EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said on Thursday that officials were looking at a Chinese plan for its aviation carbon emissions, but did not yet have enough information to see if it could count as an "equivalent measure" under EU carbon law.

China confirmed earlier this week that it would use revenue from a passenger tax on international flights to cut carbon emissions in the aviation sector, adding that the tax itself would not increase, according to Chinese media.

SYDNEY: Australia's Qantas on Friday launched the nation's first commercial flight using a mixture of refined cooking oil, saying it would not survive if it relied solely on traditional jet fuel. The Airbus A330 left Sydney for Adelaide using a 50-50 blend derived from recycled cooking oil and regular jet fuel in what the airline hopes will be the first step towards a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia.