IATA CALLS FOR GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT FOR AVIATION

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) calls on world governments to unite in support of the aviation industry’s ambitious targets to combat climate change and agree to a global approach at the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Triennial Assembly in Montreal.

“The past 18 months have been the worst financial times in modern aviation history. But even in these harsh times, airlines’ budgets earmarked for environment projects were not cut,” said IATA director general and chief executive officer Giovanni Bisignani at the Aviation and Environment Summit held in Geneva by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG).

“In the next 10 years, the industry will spend US$1.3 trillion for 12,000 new aircraft. Each of these will be 20-25 per cent more fuel efficient than their predecessors,” he added.

The global aviation industry was united behind three targets to address climate change, a 1.5 per cent average annual improvement in fuel efficiency to 2020, capping net emissions from 2020 with carbon-neutral growth, and cutting net emissions in

half by 2050 compared with 2005.

Bisignani highlighted that sustainable biofuels were making great progress and moving closer to certification for commercial use. Five airlines had already tested flights using sustainable biofuels and four more tests were expected before the end of the year.

“With certification expected within months, distribution and commercialisation were the challenges. It is in the self-interest of every government to get much more involved and support the commercialisation of biofuels with incentives to facilitate the needed investments,” said Bisignani.

Bisignani made special note of the critical timing of the 37th ICAO Assembly which opens on September 28.

“We cannot meet our ambitious targets without the support and cooperation of governments. Aviation is a global industry. We need a global framework under ICAO to guide our efforts. The ICAO Assembly is our best opportunity to achieve this in time for COP-16 in Cancun,” he said.

“Political obstacles being removed, the industry is committed to aggressive targets and our track record demonstrates that we will achieve them. Supporting aviation’s efforts should be an easy decision for governments to make in Montreal.”

Bisignani noted that the significant changes seen at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since the Copenhagen meeting would help facilitate an agreement at ICAO. Christiana Figueres, the new executive secretary of the UNFCCC who took charge in May, was currently working with the industry to achieve solutions.

“The willingness of the UNFCCC to constructively engage and challenge the industry is a new and much welcomed approach. Clearing the CBDR issue removes a major political obstacle. With ICAO, a global framework can accommodate the special needs of developing nations. A decade ago, governments agreed to a global solution on noise through ICAO that included extended timelines for developing nations,” said Bisignani.

Bisignani also encouraged governments to speak out against uncoordinated economic measures that would not be effective in reducing emissions.

“We must continue to oppose regional and national emissions trading schemes and taxes that take billions from the industry but do nothing to improve environmental performance.”

“We are building critical momentum. More and more governments are showing their political will to match the industry’s ambitious commitments by supporting the global framework needed to achieve them.

“There is still some ground left to cover, but I am confident that we are moving in the right direction to reduce emissions while protecting the social and economic benefits of aviation,” he concluded.