Icao to debate carbon emission strategy

Environment will top the agenda when the 38th International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao) Assembly convenes next month. The aviation industry urgently needs governments to agree, through Icao, to a global approach to managing aviation’s carbon emissions, including a single global market-based-measure (MBM), International Air Transport Association CEO Tony Tyler said recently. There is consensus among Iata member airlines that a single mandatory carbon-offsetting scheme would be the simplest and most effective option for an MBM. “For governments, finding agreement on MBMs will not be easy. It was difficult enough for the airlines, given the potential financial implications. Bridging the very different circumstances of fast-growing airlines in emerging markets and those in more mature markets required a flexible approach and mutual understanding. But sustainability is aviation’s licence to grow. With that understanding and a firm focus on the future, airlines found an historic agreement. This industry agreement should help to relieve the political gridlock on this important issue and give governments momentum and a set of tools as they continue their difficult deliberations,” said Tyler. Aviation is the first industry to suggest a global approach to the application of a single MBM to manage its climate change impact. This keeps aviation in the forefront of industries in managing carbon emissions, he added. It was also the first to agree global targets. These are: improving fuel efficiency by 1.5% annually to 2020, capping net emissions with CNG2020, and cutting emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005. And it was also the first to agree on a global strategy to achieve them. Tyler said it was important that airlines had reached agreement as governments across the world had asked for their input and advice. “If we did not reach agreement and support this resolution governments would have to decide on our behalf. We would have seen more environmental taxes imposed. The UK, Germany and Austria already have. Without a united industry position we would cede the opportunity to influence governments on MBMs. And we would have left ourselves defenceless to fight what governments might come up with.” He said while there was still no guarantee that what they were saying they wanted would be implemented, at least they now had a better chance of seeing a solution that suited industry. INSERT 1 Airlines have agreed to recommend to governments the adoption of a single market-based-measure (MBM) for aviation. INSERT 2 1.5% What the idustry is aiming for in improved fuel effiency by 2020