Aviation has moved another vital step forward in achieving its goal of reaching net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreeing to work collectively toward this goal.
ICAO, which is a United Nations body made up of nearly 200 countries, formally adopted the long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) for the global aviation industry to reach net zero by 2050 at its meeting in Montreal last week.
The move brings countries into line with the goals of the aviation industry in making air travel more sustainable and reaching net zero by the middle of the century.
Salvatore Sciacchitano, president of the ICAO Council, said: “States’ adoption of this new long-term goal for decarbonised air transport, following the similar commitments from industry groups, will contribute importantly to the green innovation and implementation momentum, which must be accelerated over the coming decades to ultimately achieve emissions free powered flight.”
The agreement will “rely on the combined effect” of multiple CO2 reduction measures, including the development of new types of aircraft technology, streamlined flight operations and the increased production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
“Countries have achieved some tremendous and very important diplomatic progress at this event, and on topics of crucial importance to the future sustainability of our planet and the air transport system which serves and connects its populations,” added ICAO secretary general Juan Carlos Salazar.
States also agreed to back ICAO’s work to help accelerate the availability and use of SAF, with a conference on aviation and alternative fuels set to be held next year.
Airlines organisation IATA welcomed ICAO’s commitment as an “important step forward” by countries, which aligned them with IATA’s own resolution in October 2021 to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, added: “The significance of the LTAG agreement cannot be under-estimated. The aviation industry’s commitment to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 requires supportive government policies.
“Now that governments and industry are both focused on net zero by 2050, we expect much stronger policy initiatives in key areas of decarbonisation such as incentivising the production capacity of SAF.
“The global determination to decarbonise aviation that underpins this agreement must follow the delegates home and lead to practical policy actions enabling all states to support the industry in the rapid progress that it is determined to make.”
Europe’s Destination 2050 group, which includes Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), Airlines for Europe (A4E) and European Regions Airline Association (ERA), also “came out in strong support” of the ICAO agreement.
“Aviation, as a global enterprise, needs climate policies that ensure harmonised approaches for all stakeholders and to be met by commensurate actions across all regions,” said Destination 2050 in a statement.
“The Destination 2050 partners praised the long-awaited global agreement at ICAO. They recognised its key role in providing consistency among policies, creating a level playing field and setting the ground for the necessary regulatory certainty for investment and finance to secure a sustainable future for the air transport sector globally.”