ATA Applauds ICAO's Comprehensive Emissions Reduction Plan

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) applauded ICAO's adoption last week of a comprehensive plan for further addressing greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation.

"ICAO's action [ on September 28^th] further affirms its leadership on environmental issues involving international aviation," said ATA's president and CEO James C. May. "ICAO's comprehensive plan will facilitate critical advances in air traffic management, operations, alternative fuels, research and development and other measures designed to reduce fuel burn and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby bringing further improvements on a global basis."

Mr. May noted that ICAO's actions will reinforce what U.S. airlines are already doing to reduce emissions by better efficiency.

"The U.S. airlines have improved their fuel efficiency by 103 percent since 1978, resulting in commensurate reductions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. The ATA Board of Directors recently approved a multi-faceted climate change plan that includes a commitment for an additional 30 percent improvement in fuel efficiency through 2025.  While we are committed to doing our part, the ICAO plan is needed to help address infrastructure inefficiencies on a global scale that increase delays and emissions."

Echoing the position taken by IATA, May expressed deep disappointment in the decision by the European States to "reserve" on the aspects of the ICAO Assembly plan that confirm that countries may impose emissions trading or environmental charges on the airlines of other countries only through mutual agreement.

"The European States have indicated their intent to unilaterally impose such measures on the airlines from other countries, contrary to the will of every other country in the world and contrary to international law.  If they persist, there will no doubt be a legal battle.  It is our hope that this one area of disagreement will not detract from the broad agreement obtained on all other aspects of ICAO's comprehensive plan," May said.  09-30-2007.

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