Four major Chinese airlines are set to jointly sue the European Union over its plans to charge carriers for carbon emissions, an official with the country's industry group announced last week. "There is no way the emission charge can be justified. It violates the basic principles of international law and infringes on other nations' sovereignty," said Cai Haibo, deputy secretary-general with China Air Transport Association. The Chinese suit would differ from one launched by U.S. airlines in the European Court of Justice, which focused on the jurisdiction of EU regulators applying the emissions trading scheme to foreign carriers. Instead, the Chinese suit would challenge the plan under the Kyoto Protocol, which distinguishes between the efforts required from developing and developed nations. EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard has said that the legislation is compliant with international law, and that the measures would add six to twelve euros ($8-16) to ticket prices for transatlantic flights. However, Chinese airlines estimate that it will add Rmb300, roughly $47, to flights between China and Europe. For the full story, see http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-11/china-may-challenge-eu-over-aviation-emissions-by-year-end.html and http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2124371/chinese-airlines-eu-court-emissions-trading.