23 September 2014: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the aviation industry, represented by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), have announced a commitment to sustainable growth through actions including efficiency improvements, alternative fuel use, and market-based measures to cut emissions. The announcement was made as a contribution to the Climate Summit, which was held on 23 September 2014, in New York, US.

The joint statement was announced under the transport ‘action area’ of the Climate Summit. It was signed, on the industry side, by Airports Council International (ACI), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the International Coordinating Council for Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA) and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), which together represent the various components of the international air transport industry.

The share of aviation in global carbon dioxide emissions, currently at 2%, is expected to grow with increasing air travel, particularly in emerging economies. The aviation ‘Action Statement’ includes the goal of halving global carbon dioxide emissions generated by the industry by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. The Statement also reaffirms the aviation sector’s commitment to a “pathway of sustainable growth.” It states that governments, under ICAO, and the aviation industry, through ATAG, are taking actions to improve air transport fuel efficiency and stabilize the sector’s net carbon dioxide emissions from 2020.

A basket of mitigation measures aimed at contributing to achieving the outlined goals include: new and more efficient aircraft technology, including the development of a global carbon dioxide standard for new aircraft; sustainable fuels; better use of intrastructure, especially air traffic management; and capacity building. The development of an effective, global market-based measure for international aviation, which was agreed upon by the 38th ICAO Assembly in October 2013, will be a further measure. Such mechanism will be considered at the next ICAO assembly in 2016 for implementation from 2020.

The Summit outcome documents also include lists of: multi-stakeholder initiatives and projects to develop and deploy of sustainable alternative aviation fuels; and mitigation actions taking place across the industry. [ICAO Press Release] [2014 Climate Summit Aviation Action Statement] [2014 Climate Summit Aviation Action Plan] [Aviation Action Plan Annex] [IISD RS Story on 38th ICAO Assembly] [IISD RS Coverage of the UN Climate Summit]