24 November 2008: The 45th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation of the Asia and Pacific Regions is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 24-28 November 2008, under the theme “Cooperating towards enhanced aviation safety, security, efficiency and environment.”

In an address to the conference, Roberto Kobeh González, President of
the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),
emphasized issues such as the economic recovery of the aviation
industry, safety, lack of skilled aviation personnel, airspace
regulation, and climate change.
On climate change, he said ICAO would submit to the UNFCCC, prior to
the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Poznan, Poland, a statement
suggesting that international aviation emissions should continue to
come under the responsibility of the Organization in a post-2012
climate agreement. He highlighted work by ICAO’s Group on International
Aviation and Climate Change, established in 2007.
Noting ongoing work
on alternative fuels for aviation, he said the “ultimate goal” must be
the elimination of carbon emissions from aviation. He indicated that in
the long term, the international aviation community will “continue to
develop the full range of options currently available,” highlighting
improved operational and technological measures, and market-based
measures such as emissions trading and carbon offsets. [The Statement] [Conference Website]