UAE takes part in Global Aviation Emissions

The United Arab Emirates, represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and UAE Permanent Delegation at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have participated in an international meeting hosted in Washington D.C. by the US State Department Special Envoy on Climate Change, Todd Stern. The purpose of the gathering was to advance discussions on addressing international aviation emissions. States such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and the UAE joined the US at this event. Chairing the UAE Delegation to the Washington summit, UAE Representative to ICAO, Capt Aysha Al Hamili commented that there was significant agreement amongst participating States that emissions of greenhouse gases from international aviation should be addressed multilaterally. ICAO is the appropriate forum to pursue this issue. Aviation is a global industry requiring a global solution. It is clear that most States strongly support the tremendous job that ICAO is currently undertaking. Amongst others, this includes working toward setting a CO2 standard, implementing fuel reporting requirements, promoting the improved use of air navigation tools to reduce emissions, developing technical aspects of an international framework for MBMs, as well as assisting States in their development and deployment of alternative fuels. Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of GCAA, underscored the “significant value of gathering States with such diverse views on a very sensitive topic.” “This will be extremely important in the process of consensus building,” he added. Capt. Al Hamili, who also chairs ICAO’s Ad Hoc Working Group on MBMs, underscored “various actions that States have already been implementing. These include operational improvements, such as air traffic management modernization, and technological improvements, such as acceleration of the use of fuel-efficient air traffic technology.” States expressed agreement that there is an inexorable need to move forward, in particular with respect to the adoption of a meaningful CO2 standard, mandatory fuel reporting, the submission of State Action plans, advancing improvements in air traffic management at ICAO’s upcoming ANC-12 meeting, and a potential agreement on the appropriate role of MBMs. States also agreed that the priority for the next Assembly should be to develop a framework for national and regional MBMS, as well as continue evaluation the feasibility of a global MB for international aviation” Capt. Al Hamili added.