Global aerospace industry welcomes agreement at ICAO climate change talks

Global aerospace industry welcomes agreement at ICAO climate change talks

2010-10-12 04:30:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA) on Monday welcomed the agreement reached at the 37th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The agreement marks decisive progress towards a global plan to address CO2 emissions from aviation. The industry also called on governments to work in partnership with industry to ensure that the sector's ambitious environmental goals can be achieved.

According to AeroSpace and Defense Industries Association of Europe Secretary-General Francois Gayet, who chairs ICCAIA, the aviation industry has already committed to a 1.5 percent annual improvement in CO2 efficiency to 2020, carbon-neutral growth from 2020, and a 50% reduction of net CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.

"We're glad to see that governments have now expressed support for our ambitions," Gayet said. He also called on governments "to raise their level of support for research and development for new greener technologies."

The resolution adopted at the end of the ICAO 37th Assembly calls for 2% annual fuel efficiency improvements, carbon neutral growth from 2020, and a CO2 standard for aircraft engines with a target date of 2013.

Gayet also urged governments to facilitate the deployment of more efficient air traffic management systems, such as SESAR in Europe and NextGen in the U.S.

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