UN Convention Applauds Industry For Carbon Reductions, Fuel Efficiency

At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16), which concluded December 10 in Cancun, Mexico, the international aviation industry was recognized for its commitment and vision to address climate change.

"We are an industry unlike any other sector," said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey.  "Few state delegations at last year's climate talks in Copenhagen were aware of aviation's outstanding track record on fuel efficiency or the global industry's dramatic commitments to reduce our carbon footprint. This year in Cancun, there was little doubt about either."

The aviation industry has committed to 1.5 percent per year fuel efficiency gains annually, carbon neutral growth from 2020 and halving aviation's net CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

While a succession agreement to the Kyoto protocol was not signed in Cancun, states made progress on many of the principles needed to finish the UNFCCC's work next year at the Conference of Parties (COP17) in Durban, South Africa.

Marion Blakey

"Some will say that not enough was accomplished at Cancun last week," said Blakey. "However, recognition of aviation's leadership to reduce emissions, which has taken years of hard work to forge from a huge group of stakeholders, is a significant step forward."

FMI: www.aia-aerospace.org