Says FAA Is 'Encouraged' By The Committee's Action

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta released a statement late Monday praising the approval by the ICAO's Committee On Aviation Environmental Protection of a new standard for CO2 emissions from civil aircraft.

"I am pleased that ICAO reached an international consensus on a meaningful standard to foster reduction in CO2 emissions from aircraft," Huerta said in the statement. "We are encouraged by this success and believe it puts us on a promising path to secure a robust market-based measure later this year. This is another example of the administration's deep commitment to  working with the international community on policies that will reduce harmful carbon pollution worldwide."
 
According to the FAA, the U.S. has been making progress in all areas of ICAO’s agreed-upon “basket of measures” to address aviation greenhouse gas emissions. This includes the development of new airframe and engine technologies, aircraft operational improvements, sustainable, alternative fuels, and a global market-based measure [Global MBM] as a gap-filler.
 
For example, the agency says, through the Continuous Lower Energy Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program, the FAA has worked closely with industry on accelerating the maturation of new aircraft and engine technologies to reduce fuel burn.
 
The FAA says it is also well under way with a broad set of initiatives under our modernization of U.S. air transportation system. The agency has put in more than 7,000 GPS-based NextGen procedures so far, the majority of which result in more efficient routing. This reduces both fuel consumption and emissions.
 
Moreover, partnerships with academia and industry, and collaboration with other civil aviation authorities have led to efforts to develop, test and approve sustainable alternative jet fuels, leveraging progress being made in this vital area internationally.
 
The final element in the “basket” is a global market-based measure, which the FAA views as a "gap-filler" to ensure U.S. airlines can keep their international aviation emissions at 2020 levels. Since the 2013 ICAO Assembly, the FAA says it has continued to work within ICAO to take a holistic approach to addressing aviation’s contribution to climate change. Along with other Member States, the FAA continues to believe that addressing the entire basket of measures is the most effective way for international aviation to reduce its carbon footprint.

(Source: FAA news release)

FMI: www.faa.gov