Aviation leaders to draft historic emissions agreement
Over the next two weeks, more than 2,000 transportation officials and leaders from around the world will hammer out an agreement that will shape the future of sustainable air travel.
At the 39th assembly of the UN-backed International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, leaders are expected to draft a historic emissions agreement that will become the first global, market-based measure (MBM) carried out by an industry sector on CO2 emissions from an international activity.
“The path to an MBM for international aviation has been a complex one, for all concerned, but it has also been a process characterized by a high-level of political will and a clear motivation among State and industry parties to realize a practical and consensus-driven global approach,” said council president Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu in a statement.
According to ICAO, international aviation contributes 1.3 percent a year to global, manmade CO2 emissions by sending about 100,000 planes into the air and ferrying 10 million passengers every day.
The ICAO assembles every three years to to draft a world policy for the next three years.
Member states represent 81 percent of international aviation activity.
Meanwhile, carriers like United Airlines and JetBlue have taken their own initiative to green air travel by striking partnerships with biofuel suppliers.
Just last week, JetBlue announced details of what it dubbed one of the largest renewable jet fuel purchase agreements in aviation history in a 10-year deal that is expected to achieve a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per gallon based on a life-cycle analysis.
Earlier this year, United Airlines became the first commercial US airline to take flight on sustainable biofuel.
Members will also discuss aviation security and economic development.
The meeting wraps up October 7.
