Aviation industry may have to support Green Climate Fund

Governments may target the aviation industry to support the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which was set in motion at the17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (ATW Daily News, Dec. 13).

The GCF, designed to help developing nations with mitigation and adaptation to climate change in the future, was created at last year’s climate talks (ATW Daily News, Dec. 15, 2010). 

Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) Executive Director Paul Steele cautioned Monday that aviation and shipping have been cited as potential sources for this fund. He said that while aviation is willing to explore such approaches as part of a global approach to address aviation emissions developed through ICAO, any sectoral contributions into the GCF must be fair and proportionate.

“No sector should be singled out and no sector should be asked to shoulder a disproportionate share of the overall requirements,” Steele said. “Any revenues raised from aviation should primarily be used to finance mitigation and adaptation measures throughout the aviation sector particularly to develop sustainable aviation biofuels, including in developing countries.”