IATA looking for global solutions

IATA is calling on governments to agree on a global approach to market-based measures (MBMs) to help aviation manage the 2% of global man-made carbon emissions for which it is responsible. The airline industry association also stressed the need for governments and industry to align on all four pillars of the aviation industry’s strategy on climate change: investment in new technology, more efficient operations, better infrastructure and positive economic measure or MBMs. The aviation value chain — airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and manufacturers — has agreed to three sequential targets on climate change: a 1.5% average annual improvement in fuel efficiency to 2020, capping emissions with carbon neutral-growth from 2020 (CNG2020), and cutting net emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. It is the only global industry to have set such ambitious targets. At the Greener Skies Conference in Hong Kong, IATA’s director general and CEO, Tony Tyler said: “A lot of progress has been made on aviation and the environment. The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) was a roadblock to establishing a global approach to MBMs. With that roadblock removed we are well positioned for a breakthrough on MBMs. Governments are fully focused on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to agree upon a global solution at their upcoming Assembly. And the industry is united and working hard to support that by finding an equitable way to share the burden of achieving CNG2020. A lot of hard work lies ahead but we are committed to achieving a positive result.” ICAO has identified three options: carbon offsetting, carbon offsetting with a revenue-generating component, and a full global emissions trading scheme. And Tyler notes: “Whichever option is chosen, the devil will be in the details. And it is critically important to ensure that the agreement preserves fair competition.” The attention of governments is focused on MBMs in the wake of Europe stopping the clock on its unilateral and extra-territorial plans to include aviation in its ETS. “Finding a global approach to MBMs is important. But attention is needed on all four pillars of the industry’s united strategy. Moreover, MBMs will be a temporary measure. The long-term solution for aviationÆs carbon emissions requires progress on technology, operations and infrastructure,” Tyler said. Go to http://www.iata.org for more.