Eco-Aviation Channel

G8 supports ICAO role in emissions policy, 50% CO2 reduction by 2050

By Perry Flint
Eco-Aviation Today, July 10, 2009, p.1

The G8 Summit that took place this week in Italy reaffirmed support for ICAO's role, in cooperation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in addressing emissions reductions targets and policy for the international airline industry post-2012. The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the US, together with the European Union.

The G8 also called for a global emissions reduction target of "at least 50%" by 2050 compared to 2005, which is in line with the goal established by IATA members at last month's Annual General Meeting in Kuala Lumpur (Eco-Aviation Today, 6/09). IATA further committed to achieving carbon-neutral traffic growth by 2020. "The G8 Summit declaration is absolutely aligned with the aggressive targets that aviation has set," said IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani.

The declaration, "Responsible Leadership for a Sustainable Future," stated that "analysis has highlighted the potential to curtail emissions by focusing on specific sectors," supporting IATA's calls for a sectoral approach to international aviation emissions. And it welcomed the private sector as "an essential player in the efforts to address climate change." According to the declaration, G8 nations will "engage the private sector more actively" in order to "trigger a change in direction and mobilize investments" and to "enhance information exchange and partnerships between governments and business."

The words of support for ICAO and confirmation of aviation's emissions goals gives the industry some momentum and confidence heading into the December UNFCC summit in Copenhagen, an IATA spokesperson told Eco-Aviation Today. "We are quite pleased. . .it's an important endorsement of what we've been advocating for." Last month, a senior European Commission official also expressed support for ICAO's role (see next item).

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