Transport minister Simon Bridges has released New Zealand’s plan to address emissions from air travel.
The minister is lodging the New Zealand aviation emissions reduction action plan with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at its annual summit.
The plan outlines current and planned measures to address aviation emissions and covers four principal parties – government, air traffic control, airports, and airlines.
“Transport accounts for around 17% of New Zealand’s emissions, and the Government is doing some things to reduce this, including tackling aviation emissions,” says Bridges.
“Our core response to climate change is the New Zealand emissions trading scheme, which was the world’s first major ETS to affect airlines,” he says.
“We’re also addressing the environmental impacts of aviation through economy-wide emissions targets, by promoting biofuels and renewable electricity, and with research on passenger and freight trends that helps inform the public and private sector planning,” says Bridges.
“A wide range of other initiatives, such as voluntary carbon offsetting and the introduction of efficient new aircraft also play valuable roles in addressing aviation emissions,” he says.
New Zealand is also set to join an international agreement addressing emissions from air travel.
“The government is voluntarily entering a global measure under development by the ICAO,” says Bridges.
“New Zealand will support the ICAO global standard resolution and participate from Phase I, which commences in 2021, provided other developed countries and the majority of the main aviation states also agree to do so,” he says.
“These measures show the Government is working with the air transport sector in New Zealand and internationally, addressing the climate change impact of passengers and freight traveling by air,” says Bridges.
New Zealand’s Aviation Emissions Reduction Action Plan is available at transport.govt.nz/air
