IATA Says Aviation Needs Global Strategy to Reduce Emissions

The International Air Transport Association has called on governments to settle on a worldwide approach to market-based measures to help manage the 2 percent of global manmade carbon emissions produced by the aviation industry.

IATA also stressed the need for governments and industry to agree 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.

“Governments are fully focused on the International Civil Aviation Organization to agree upon a global solution at their upcoming assembly,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and CEO, speaking at the Greener Skies Conference in Hong Kong.

ICAO has identified three options: carbon offsetting, carbon offsetting with a revenue-generating component and a full global emissions trading scheme.

“MBMs will be a temporary measure,” Tyler added. “The long-term solution for aviation’s carbon emissions requires progress on technology, operations and infrastructure.”

He also cited the need for greater attention to the commercialization of sustainable biofuels and improvements in air traffic management.