The Paris Agreement and ICAO: Addressing Climate Change in Aviation
The aviation industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 2% of worldwide CO2 emissions. As such, it is essential that the industry takes steps to mitigate its impact on the environment. One of the most significant global efforts to address climate change in aviation is through the Paris Agreement and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is a global agreement adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015. The agreement aims to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with a target of limiting the increase to 1.5°C.
The Paris Agreement is significant because it is the first time that all countries have agreed to work together to tackle climate change. Each country is required to submit a national plan, or nationally determined contribution (NDC), outlining the actions they will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The NDCs are reviewed and updated every five years.
For the aviation industry, the Paris Agreement is relevant because it specifically calls on the ICAO to develop a global market-based measure (MBM) for international aviation emissions. This measure is known as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or CORSIA.
The International Civil Aviation Organization
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The ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation. Its role in addressing climate change in aviation is crucial because it is responsible for developing and implementing global standards and policies.
In 2016, the ICAO adopted CORSIA, which aims to offset the growth in international aviation emissions from 2020 onwards. The scheme requires airlines to purchase carbon credits to offset their emissions above a certain threshold. The scheme will be voluntary from 2021 to 2023, and then mandatory from 2024 onwards for all countries that have opted in.
CORSIA is a significant step forward in addressing climate change in aviation because it is the first global market-based measure for any industry. It is estimated that CORSIA will offset around 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2035, equivalent to taking 540 million cars off the road for a year.
Conclusion
The Paris Agreement and ICAO are essential components in the global effort to address climate change in aviation. The Paris Agreement calls on the ICAO to develop CORSIA, a global market-based measure for international aviation emissions. CORSIA is a significant step forward in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry and is the first global market-based measure for any industry. The implementation of CORSIA will require cooperation from all countries, airlines, and stakeholders in the aviation industry, but it is a crucial step towards a more sustainable future.
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