ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu brought an inspirational message of hope and progress on environmental action to help kick off COP22 in Marrakesh this week, citing the momentum generated by the landmark international aviation emissions mitigation decisions forged this October at ICAO"™s 39th Assembly.
"The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) endorsed at our Assembly will be the very first global market-based measure to address CO2 emissions from any industry sector," President Aliu reported to the COP22 Plenary.
He also confirmed that States representing more than 86.5 per cent of international air traffic had already volunteered to participate in the new global market-based measure (GMBM) from its earliest pilot phase.
"Importantly, the pragmatic consensus ICAO achieved on the CORSIA accommodates the diversity in levels of State-by-State socio-economic development, volumes of international air traffic, and many other contributing factors," he stressed. "It will very helpfully complement the extensive basket of measures for environmental protection already being pursued by ICAO and its Member States since 2010."
The ICAO basket of measures includes the air transport sector"™s common pursuit of more innovative aircraft technologies, streamlined operational procedures to decrease aircraft noise and fuel burn, and wider use of sustainable alternative jet fuels. These priorities have been helping international aviation to surpass its aspirational goal for a recurring two per cent annual fuel efficiency improvement, as well as carbon neutral growth from 2020.
In addition to its Member State"™ endorsement for the CORSIA, ICAO’s 39th Assembly also welcomed the development of the world"™s very first CO2 emissions standard. It will become applicable to most classes of new commercial aircraft entering service as of 2020.
"We are obliged to make this world a safer, more sustainable and resilient place to live, and more than ever ICAO is determined to continue to lead on all matters related to international civil aviation, including climate change," President Aliu noted.
In addition to his main statement this morning to the COP22 plenary, President Aliu also conducted a press conference on Monday with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, delivered ICAO inputs to the UNFCCC"™s Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), participated in ICAO side events highlighting the achievements at the 39th Assembly, and undertook a series of bilateral meetings with heads of various regional groups and international organizations.
