Mitigating international air transport emissions through a global measure: Time for some lateral thinking

The ICAO Assembly last October reached what was hailed as a "historic agreement" on market-based measures (MBMs) to fill the 'wedge gap' between the continuing growth of CO2 emissions from international air transport and their mitigation from technological and operational improvements and the use of alternative fuels. This accord was essentially a decision for ICAO to develop a global MBM scheme for consideration by the next Assembly in 2016 and intended implementation from 2020. However, the relevant climate change resolution couched this in terms that offer several loopholes, with continuing fundamental differences on both the goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and guiding principles. The resolution was also subject to numerous 'reservations', a provision whereby individual States indicate they will not commit to a clause or clauses. Chris Lyle (above) takes a 'big picture' look at the agreement in the context of the geopolitical influences at work, and suggests ways of resolving key differences as well as a modified approach to the global ambition.

GreenAir Online

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