Business Daily (Nairobi)
Zeddy Sambu
2 October 2007
Kenya has endorsed a unified strategy that the aviation industry has crafted to deal with climate change concerns even as it dismissed Europe's approach to the management of aircraft emissions as being out-of-touch with the industry's realities.
The strategy was adopted during yesterday's session of the ongoing Triennial Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) conference that is taking place in Montreal, Canada.
Mr Giovanni Bisignani, the IATA director general and CEO said the organisation was working with member airlines on a pro-active strategy for fuel efficiency.
"Our work with governments and airlines to optimise routes, use best practices in fuel management helped us save up to 15 million tonnes of CO2 in 2006 which we regard as real progress for the environment."
The meeting also embraced IATA's 25 per cent fuel efficiency improvement target by 2020.
A number of governments have pledged to support IATA through increased investments in new technology, building and use of better infrastructure that will enable aircraft to maximise their efficiency.
IATA has 240 member airlines , all of which have committed to improving their environmental performance. The organisation, however, maintains that more effort is needed to boost the growth of carbon-neutral technology in the medium-term, and the development of carbon-free technology within the next 50 years.
Although Europe agrees with IATA's strategy, it has reserved support for the ICAO resolution requiring mutual consent for implementation of emissions trading schemes.
Aviation has come under heavy criticism as the debate on climate change rages with aircraft seen as some of the heaviest emitters of CO2.
Yesterday, Mr Bisignani said IATA was committed to working with ICAO and its 190 member states on a plan that will address all aspects of environmental concerns before the next meeting.
Europe's failure to accept a global approach, but adopt a regional scheme to emissions trading, based on consent, has been dismissed as poised to have only limited impact on the environment.
Participants took issue with the rush by Europe to establish an emissions trading system yet its track record on operational progress that could improve environmental performance is almost tragic.
"After 15 years of talks and no results on a Single European Sky, the potential 12 million tonnes of CO2 savings are far from reality," said the statement .
"Cleaning up Europe's own backyard is an essential first step towards credible leadership on environmental issues.
Fortunately, the industry isn't waiting for the politicians-European or otherwise. Airlines are moving forward and delivering real results on top of a good track record," said Bisignani.
Besides, Europe is also accused for their unilateral application to foreign airlines as a breaching the Chicago Convention. "Europe's unilateral approach to emissions trading confuses taking leadership with taking cash. It is disappointing and irresponsible," he said.
"While the political focus has been on economic measures, let it be clear that emissions trading alone is not a solution for tackling climate change. CO2 emissions are directly related to fuel consumption.
With the fuel bill at 28 per cent of airline operating costs, this industry is the most highly incentivised to improve its environmental performance within the limits of technology," said Bisignani.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 Business Daily. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
