European diplomats criticise UN plan to curb airline emissions

ICAO blueprint criticised for having too many exemptions to be credible, too little detail to be trustworthy and for contradicting Paris climate deal

A draft UN plan to offset the air industry's surging growth in emissions contains too many exemptions to be credible and too little detail to be trustworthy, European diplomats say.

Aviation is one of only two sectors not covered by the Paris climate agreement and many diplomats are optimistic that the UN International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) blueprint can be whittled into shape before a Montreal conference this September.