Global aviation agrees a carbon offset scheme at ICAO's Assembly - but leaves much work to be done

On 6-Oct-2016 the Assembly of ICAO adopted a resolution to implement a global carbon-offsetting scheme for aviation. The scheme is aimed at helping to neutralise the CO2 emissions impact of the growth in international air travel after 2020. It complements efforts by the industry to mitigate its climate change impact through improvements in aircraft technology, operations and infrastructure and sustainable alternative fuels.

The President of the Council of ICAO, Dr Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, acknowledged that the process had been complex for all concerned, but hailed the agreement as the result of a process characterised by a high level of political will. IATA welcomed the "historic" agreement as the first global climate change mitigation scheme covering an entire industrial sector.

However, the International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation said that the agreement sent a "worrying signal" and the coalition member Transport & Environment called it "a weak start". It does leave a number of important details still to be elaborated. Given the complexity of negotiating a global deal, the ICAO agreement may be the best that could be expected for now. Nevertheless, aviation must continue to show strong ambition to play its part in mitigating climate change, and also in being seen to do so.