Memo: Breakthrough in Climate Change talks at UN Aviation Body

At the end of difficult negotiations during the 37th session of the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the 190 contracting states of the International Aviation Body were able to strike the first global governmental deal to commit the aviation sector to reduce greenhouse emissions from international aviation from 2020.

Europe played an instrumental role in securing this agreement and has taken the lead by including aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), which will start in 2012. European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport and EU Commissioner Connie Hedegaard responsible for Climate Action, welcomed the breakthrough, which came after almost a decade of deadlock at ICAO on how to address emissions from international aviation. They underlined that aviation is the first sector to commit itself to such emissions reductions and that the agreement will cover over 90% of worldwide air traffic.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Memo/10/480: Progress update – International Civil Aviation Organization 37th session http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/480&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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