In November, the European Commission proposed that it would suspend international aspects of the aviation EU Emissions Trading Scheme in order that progress could be made by the International Civil Aviation Organization in developing a global agreement on the treatment of aviation emissions.
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Edward Davey said: "Given the uncertainty of what is happening at the EU and global level in managing aviation emissions, we think it sensible to defer our decision on the inclusion of aviation and shipping emissions in the UK's carbon budgets.
This government is fully committed to meeting the 2050 target, and this is consistent with the UK's contribution to the international goal of limiting global temperature rises due to climate change to 2°C".
