The European Union has moved in the right direction by ending its insistence that all airlines using its airports must pay for their emissions, said a Chinese climate change official.

The European Union's Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said on Monday the EU will change its rules if the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization can agree on an alternative scheme to help curb rising airline emissions.

Li Gao, vice-director general of Climate Change at the National Development and Reform Commission, said the move is "a step in the right direction".

"This is a result reached under pressure from all sides that fully indicates unilateral measures are not feasible in addressing climate change issues," said Li.

Hedegaard called on the aviation organization to reach a new deal by next November otherwise the EU will revert to the original plan.

According to the original EU carbon emissions law, the EU began charging airlines that use EU airports for carbon emissions on Jan 1. The first payment was due on April 30, 2013.

More than 30 countries, including China, India, Russia and the United States, strongly opposed the EU's ruling.