IATA strengthens commitment to tough emission targets

International Air Transport Association welcomed the Copenhagen Accord as an important step in the right direction for climate change.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the Copenhagen Accord as an important step in the right direction for climate change. Although aviation emissions were not addressed specifically in the accord,the industry will take steps towards achieving these global targets,which were recognized by the member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at its high level meeting on environment in October 2009.

IATA said it will continue to work with ICAO to develop a global framework for managing aviations emissions.

“We came to Copenhagen to be part of the deal and we were encouraged by the level of support for the industrys global sectoral approach and targets. We will continue to press states to include these global targets in any future deal, said Giovanni Bisignani,IATAs Director General and CEO.

Airlines,airports,air navigation service providers and manufacturers are reinforced in their commitment to improve fuel efficiency by an average of 1.5% per year to 2020; to stabilize carbon emissions from 2020 with carbon-neutral growth,and to a net reduction in carbon emissions of 50% by 2050 compared to 2005, he added.