Aviation industry officials and governments are expected to finalize a global climate change agreement at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s 39th Assembly in Montreal, which begins today, according to the Air Transport Action Group.
Airlines are pushing governments to adopt mandatory pollution limits, but may have to settle for a voluntary approach, at least for the time being, according to the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG).
The cross-industry advocacy group said in a statement aviation officials and government representatives are expected to finalize negotiations on a global climate change agreement at the 39th assembly of the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which begins today in Montreal.
The carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation (CORSIA) will be the world’s first market mechanism for dealing with climate change from any industrial sector, according to ATAG, but the agreement does not actually require that airlines reduce their carbon emissions. Instead, starting in 2020 when the deal goes into effect, companies will “offset” any increases in emissions through a system of credit buybacks in environmentally friendly projects.
But questions remain about what offsets can be used for the program, and whether they will need to be certified by the UN in order to qualify, questions that likely won’t be answered until after the initial agreement is signed.
ATAG said its members preferred a mandatory approach to CORSIA, but after six years of negotiations, the industry and participating governments have adopted a phase-in system that will be voluntary for the first six years of the agreement. The group said it still had faith the agreement would work, however, provided enough nations sign.
Leading up to the ICAO talks, 58 countries had volunteered to participate in the program, including global powers like the United States, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom – along with the majority of both Western and Eastern Europe – and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the draft text, the CORSIA will be applied to international aviation in three phases. The scheme will begin in 2021 with a voluntary “pilot” phase that will last until 2023 and during which the CORSIA will be evaluated to determine if any adjustments are needed. The first official implementation phase will last from 2024 to 2026, also on a voluntary basis. From 2027 to 2035, the second phase will include “most states, except least developed, small island states, and countries with a small amount of international air traffic (currently proposed at less than 0.5 percent of global traffic),” ATAG said.
A recent analysis by Bloomberg estimated the UN proposal to limit pollution from international flights may eventually cost airlines as much as $24 billion a year by 2035, equal to 1.8 percent of projected industry revenues.
Michael Gill, executive director of ATAG, said the industry is “very close” to making the CORSIA agreement a reality, and stressed the importance of such a program as part of a greater scheme of climate action for aviation.
“We are heartened to see around 60 States now demonstrate their willingness to join the offset scheme voluntarily, from the beginning,” said Gill. “We continue to encourage all other States meeting over the next two weeks of the ICAO Assembly to show the same leadership and to sign up to the CORSIA. Now is the time to follow the successful Paris Agreement with an aviation plan of action which will secure the sustainable future of the air transport sector.”
“Airlines are committed to improving environmental performance with improved technology, operations and infrastructure,” added International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac. “The industry fully supports and encourages the adoption of a carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation (CORSIA) by the states attending the ICAO Assembly. It is a critical tool for our carbon neutral growth commitment and positive momentum is building among governments.
“Already a significant number of states have raised their hands to be early voluntary adopters. Aviation is the business of freedom. Agreeing to CORSIA will play a key role in safeguarding air transport’s role in economic and social development, and ensure that future generations have the freedom to explore our beautiful planet sustainably.”
Airports Council International (ACI) World Director General Angela Gittens echoed those comments, saying her group is expected to approve a resolution Sept. 28 reaffirming ACI’s support for CORSIA, and anticipates the same support from the ICAO Assembly.
Other voices joining Gill’s call to action included Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Director General Jeff Poole and International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) Director General Kurt Edwards, who said their organizations remain committed to a broad package of measures for addressing aviation emissions.
Chair of the ICCAIA, David Melcher, president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, said he was optimistic the CORSIA agreement would be finalized at the ICAO Assembly.
“In combination with other industry actions, including the continuous improvements in aircraft and engine efficiencies, operational improvements, and sustainable alternative fuels this historic plan is key to maintaining the sector’s trajectory of carbon neutral growth from 2020,” said Melcher.
Meanwhile, ICAO and the European Union have signed a declaration of intent renewing their environmental partnership for a sustainable international aviation and efforts to address climate change, the UN group said yesterday.
Initiated in 2013, the cooperation agreement supported a 6.5 million euro capacity-building and assistance project implemented in 14 selected states in Africa and in the Caribbean. Each state submitted an action plan for carbon dioxide emissions reduction, identifying a total of 218 CO2 mitigation measures, and are now implementing those plans.
“In this crucial time, the European Union’s commitment to pursue its partnership with ICAO sends a strong signal to our Member States,” ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu said of the declaration. “It is the acknowledgment that well-structured assistance and capacity-building projects can deliver long-term environmental benefits and that a sense of cooperation is deeply infused in the 39th Session of ICAO Assembly.”
“With this declaration of intent, the European Union shows its readiness to stand by ICAO Member States and support their capacity-building activities, in a continued spirit of fruitful cooperation and upon the adoption of a landmark global market-based measures for international aviation,” added EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc.
ATAG: Airlines support mandatory carbon offsets
