IATA calls for alignment on emissions
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) challenged the
aviation industry and Governments to bring an aligned global approach on
aviation carbon emissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference to be held this December in
Copenhagen.
"Environmental responsibility is a core promise of aviation,
alongside safety and security. But we can only deliver on that promise
if Governments are aligned with all four pillars of our strategy,"
IATA's Director General and CEO, Giovanni Bisignani said at the Annual
Aviation and Environment Summit being held in Geneva by the Air
Transport Action Group (ATAG). Copenhagen will test that alignment
especially on positive economic measures.
All players in the aviation industry are united in a Four Pillar
Strategy on Climate Change focused on investment in technology,
effective operations, efficient infrastructure and positive economic
measures.
"I am convinced that we are on the right track with respect to
technology, operations and infrastructure, and the fourth pillar,
positive economic measures, needs our urgent attention," said Bisignani.
"Governments must move beyond punitive economic measures, such as
excessive so-called environment taxes, to focus on measures that reduce
emissions in a globally coordinated effort. That was the vision of the
wise drafters of the Kyoto protocol. But Governments are a long way from
achieving it."
The Kyoto protocol took a sectoral approach to aviation, recognising
that the global nature of international aviation required a different
solution than geographically fixed industries. The International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was entrusted to handle aviation's
international emissions. ICAO's 15-country Group on International
Aviation and Climate Change (GIACC) has been tasked with producing
proposals and targets in preparation for Copenhagen.
"As GIACC prepares for Copenhagen, three challenges must be met. The
first is to marry the unified approach of the Chicago Convention that
guides ICAO with the principle of common but differentiated
responsibility (CBDR) that is a cornerstone of the UNFCCC process. The
second challenge is to preserve the sectoral approach for international
aviation that was established by Kyoto.
The third is to develop economic measures that are effective in
reducing aviation's emissions. That means replacing the growing
patchwork of green taxes, charges and emissions trading proposals with a
global system; allocating the funds from that system to environmental
projects and treating aviation fairly and in proportion to its 2 percent
contribution to global man-made carbon emissions, Bisignani said.
Bisignani also highlighted the achievements of aviation in reducing
emissions. The commitment of aviation to a global and effective approach
on climate change has never been stronger. The economic crisis has not
shifted our vision or diminished our efforts, said Bisignani.
"This year we expect a 7.8 percent drop in global carbon emissions
from aviation. Of this, 6.0 percent is from an expected drop in capacity
and the other 1.8 percent is directly related to our Four Pillar
Strategy on climate change, specifically improvement in technology,
operations and infrastructure."
The progress in two areas was noted. Fuel savings: Reducing fuel
consumption reduces emissions. In 2008 IATA's efforts saved 15 million
tonnes of carbon emissions. Working side-by-side with our member
airlines, IATA's Green Teams identified savings between three and 12
percent of fuel consumption at each airline visited. We also worked with
air navigation service providers resulting in 214 more direct routings
and better terminal area management at 103 airports. Our target for this
year is to save a further 10 million tonnes," said Bisignani.
Biofuels, the recent successful tests by Continental, JAL, Air New
Zealand and Virgin proved that next generation sustainable biofuels
work. We have made amazing progress. Certification by 2010 or 2011 is a
real possibility. Biofuels may even hold the promise of improved fuel
efficiency on top of the potential to reduce emissions by up to 80
percent over the life cycle of the fuel. A successful biofuel industry
would play an important role in energy security and could be a big
generator of employment and wealth in the developing world. Commercial
production should be a priority for governments encouraged by effective
incentives in tax and regulatory frameworks, Bisignani added.
"In 2007 I set out a vision for aviation to achieve carbon-neutral
growth on the way to a carbon-free future. This pushed the boundaries of
what people thought was possible. Twenty-two months later we are closer
to carbon neutral growth than ever. Geneva |