Asia Pacific airlines press for a global approach on aviation emissions through ICAO
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Following the UNFCCC COP15 meeting in Copenhagen the Director General of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), Mr. Andrew Herdman, welcomed the Copenhagen Accord and supported the underlying message for action.
Mr. Herdman said, “Although the Copenhagen Accord does not specifically mention aviation emissions, the united industry plan of action offers challenging and ambitious targets that will deliver an improvement in CO2 emissions efficiency of 1.5% each year to 2020; carbon neutral growth from 2020; and a halving of net emissions by 2050. These targets will be achieved using the industry’s established four pillar strategy, comprising investments in technology, efficient infrastructure, operational improvements, and economic measures.”
He added: “AAPA has been actively involved in developing the common industry position, and working towards a global approach on emissions, including participating in the ICAO High Level Meeting on Climate Change in Montreal, 7-9 October 2009 and UNFCCC COP15 in Copenhagen, 7-12 December 2009 as part of the united industry team.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Herdman noted: “ICAO’s ability to achieve consensus on these politically sensitive and technically complex issues, especially concerning the impact of aviation on the environment, will be put to the test at ICAO’s 37th Assembly in Montreal, which takes place on 28 September – 8 October 2010. AAPA, working with other industry stakeholders, will continue to press ICAO to embrace a global sectoral approach, and effective coordination, avoiding the imposition of arbitrary, and environmentally ineffective, levies. Airlines are willing to play our part, but we need fair treatment and full access to global carbon markets.”
Finally, Mr. Herdman added, “Copenhagen served to remind us all that reaching political consensus on climate change initiatives, reconciling the differing interests of developed and developing nations, can be extremely challenging. For our part, the aviation industry is keen to move ahead, and will be working hard towards meeting our shared commitments. We urge governments to follow that lead by committing to a plan of action to implement a global sectoral approach to aviation emissions.”
Mr. Herdman said, “Although the Copenhagen Accord does not specifically mention aviation emissions, the united industry plan of action offers challenging and ambitious targets that will deliver an improvement in CO2 emissions efficiency of 1.5% each year to 2020; carbon neutral growth from 2020; and a halving of net emissions by 2050. These targets will be achieved using the industry’s established four pillar strategy, comprising investments in technology, efficient infrastructure, operational improvements, and economic measures.”
He added: “AAPA has been actively involved in developing the common industry position, and working towards a global approach on emissions, including participating in the ICAO High Level Meeting on Climate Change in Montreal, 7-9 October 2009 and UNFCCC COP15 in Copenhagen, 7-12 December 2009 as part of the united industry team.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Herdman noted: “ICAO’s ability to achieve consensus on these politically sensitive and technically complex issues, especially concerning the impact of aviation on the environment, will be put to the test at ICAO’s 37th Assembly in Montreal, which takes place on 28 September – 8 October 2010. AAPA, working with other industry stakeholders, will continue to press ICAO to embrace a global sectoral approach, and effective coordination, avoiding the imposition of arbitrary, and environmentally ineffective, levies. Airlines are willing to play our part, but we need fair treatment and full access to global carbon markets.”
Finally, Mr. Herdman added, “Copenhagen served to remind us all that reaching political consensus on climate change initiatives, reconciling the differing interests of developed and developing nations, can be extremely challenging. For our part, the aviation industry is keen to move ahead, and will be working hard towards meeting our shared commitments. We urge governments to follow that lead by committing to a plan of action to implement a global sectoral approach to aviation emissions.”