The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to implement the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) carbon offsetting and reduction programme — CORSIA. Under the CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), airlines need to buy carbon offsets to compensate for their growth of CO2 emissions. India is among nations that have not joined the scheme.
On Sunday, the IATA’s annual meet in Seoul passed a resolution calling on governments, including India, to implement CORSIA as agreed through the ICAO of the United Nations. The CORSIA is the first global carbon pricing instrument for an industry sector. It will cap net CO2 emissions from international aviation at 2020 levels (carbon-neutral growth, or CNG).
The IATA meet looked beyond the CORSIA to the next climate action commitment — cutting net emissions to half of the 2005 levels by 2050. Airlines were urged to implement all available fuel efficiency measures and to participate fully in a long-term switchover to sustainable aviation fuel.
“These are the key to achieving the industry’s 2050 commitment,” said a spokesperson of the IATA, which represents some 290 airlines comprising 82 % of the global air traffic.
Expressing disappointment over India not being part of the global pact to reduce emission, global airlines grouping officials said it will be a ‘major concern’ for Indian operators. They, however, hoped that India would join the framework soon.
“Airlines know that effective plans to cut emissions are critical to earning their licence to meet the growing demands for air connectivity,” Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of IATA, said. Mr. De Juniac concluded that implementing the CORSIA will stop carbon footprint from growing.
Airlines, the IATA said, are investing in efficiency measures to achieve that. The measures include procuring new aircraft, adopting better procedures, and making forward buying commitments for sustainable aviation fuels.
“We will continue to make progress, but we need governments to be aligned in their policy actions. Along with implementing the CORSIA, we need them to sort out inefficiencies in air traffic management and create the environment for the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel,” Mr. Juniac said.