IATA urges governments to adopt market-based measures to lower carbon emissions

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments to agree on a global approach to market-based measures (MBMs) to help the aviation industry manage the 2% of global manmade carbon emissions for which it is responsible.
IATA also stressed the need for governments and industry to align on all four pillars of the aviation industry’s strategy on climate change: investment in new technology, more efficient operations, better infrastructure and positive economic measure or MBMs.
The aviation industry has agreed to three sequential targets on climate change: a 1.5% average annual improvement in fuel efficiency to 2020, capping emissions with carbon neutral-growth from 2020 (CNG2020), and cutting net emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.
It is the only global industry to have set such ambitious targets.
Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and CEO, who spoke at the Greener Skies Conference in Hong Kong recently, specifically cited the need for greater attention to be focused on the commercialization of sustainable biofuels and improvements in air traffic management.
More than 1,500 commercial biofuel flights have been completed since certification was granted in 2011, he said. But the cost of biofuels is too high and the supply too limited, he added.
“Governments can help us by making biofuel production a strategic priority, and following an action list to foster research and development, de-risk investment, agree to global sustainability criteria, and support supply chain collaboration,” he said. This is the same way that governments have promoted alternative energy sources such as solar or wind generated power, he added. (February 26, 2013)