ATW Daily News

G8 affirms ICAO role in emissions ahead of Copenhagen climate summit

Friday July 10, 2009

This week's G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, reaffirmed support for ICAO's role, in cooperation with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in addressing emissions reduction targets and policy for the international airline industry post-2012.

The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the US, together with the EU. The UNFCC climate summit will take place in Copenhagen in December.

The G8 also called for a global emissions reduction target of "at least 50%" by 2050 compared to 2005, which is in line with the goal established by IATA members at last month's annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur (ATWOnline, June 10). IATA further committed to achieving carbon-neutral traffic growth by 2020.

"The G8 Summit declaration is absolutely aligned with the aggressive targets that aviation has set," IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said. He also lauded the G8's support for a sectoral approach and desire to "engage the private sector more actively." IATA "welcome[s] the opportunity to work with ICAO and the UNFCCC to replace the developing patchwork of environmental taxes and charges with a coordinated approach."

by Perry Flint

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