THE global aviation community have declared their support following the positive conclusion of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21), which news outlets worldwide hailed as a turning point in human history towards a low-carbon future.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was already slated to meet in September 2016 to address aviation emission issues, but the COP21 pact, as agreed upon by world leaders, has provided more reason for governments and aviation stakeholders to reach a favourable agreement.
“IATA welcomes the historic COP21 Paris Agreement which will provide additional momentum to governments for the negotiations at the ICAO on an aviation emissions agreement, which are expected to conclude next year,” said Tony Tyler, director general and CEO of IATA, in a media release.
“The aviation industry, through ICAO, is working towards securing its goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020, and the positive outcome of the Paris conference gives more impetus to governments to achieve this.”
The Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) also made a statement after the COP21 deal, saying that the aviation industry through ICAO “already has its own mandate and well-established programme for further addressing aviation and climate change.”
It further added that “the aviation industry will continue to promote and support the work taking place at ICAO and encourages governments meeting there to increase their engagement and ambition to reach agreement.”
The deal made in Paris is the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations to achieve a universal agreement on climate with aims to keep global warming below 2°C by the end of the century.
