The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is focused on achieving a global market-based measure to help the aviation industry manage its carbon footprint.
It is using the forum of the 39th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) from September 27 to October 7 to urge governments to agree to a global market-based measure (GMBM).
It advises that the GMBM must focus on real emissions reductions and not revenue raising for governments, take into consideration differing circumstances of airlines based on maturity of markets, and not distort competition.
It also advises that the GMBM – a critical gap-filler until improvements in technology, operations and infrastructure can fully realise the industry’s sustainability goals – be implemented as part of the package of measures in the industry’s four-pillar strategy on climate change.
These goals include an average fuel efficiency improvement of 1.5% annually to 2020; carbon neutral growth from 2020; and reducing net 2050 carbon emissions to half 2005 levels.
Security will also feature prominently at the assembly in light of UN Security Resolution 2309 passed on September 22. Under the leadership of ICAO, the Security Council reinforced the importance for national governments to invest in measures to keep aviation secure in light of evolving terrorist threats.
“Aviation is built on global standards. And that is the common theme across our full agenda at ICAO, ” said IATA’s director general and chief executive Alexandre de Juniac.
“The aviation industry supports some 63 million jobs and $2.7 trillion in economic activity. This year airlines will move about 3.8 billion people and 50 million tonnes of cargo safely to their destinations. That adds tremendous value to our world. I firmly believe that we are in the business of freedom-which has a big and growing positive impact on our globe.”
At the top of the agenda for the ICAO assembly is the proposal for the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
“The global aviation industry has turned out in force to encourage governments to make history by agreeing to implement CORSIA,” said de Juniac.
“This will be the first global agreement of its kind for an industrial sector. We are committed to carbon neutral growth from 2020. CORSIA, along with measures to improve technology, operations and infrastructure, will keep aviation at the forefront of industries responsibly managing their climate change impact.”
IATA member airlines passed resolutions at their annual general meeting in 2013 and again in 2016, calling on governments to implement a GMBM to help manage aviation’s carbon footprint.
“We have a pragmatic compromise in the current CORSIA proposal. And with some 60 states already committed for the voluntary period, momentum is building. We still need more states to demonstrate their leadership and commitment to sustainability by joining,” said de Juniac.
IATA submitted some 25 working papers to the assembly covering a broad cross-section of subjects where global standards play a role. These include safety, security, the ratification and application of global treaties, efficiency of infrastructure, slot allocation, addressing excessive levels of taxation, promoting smarter regulation and a plethora of other issues. All working papers are available on the ICAO website.
