Air, Freight News

Shippers call for world air emissions deal

[ September 16, 2016   //   Chris ]

The Global Shippers’ Forum called on the aviation sector to agree a global deal to tackle climate change in its new Aviation Emissions Policy Statement.
The sector currently represents only 2% of global carbon emissions but its projected could increase this significantly in the coming decades, says GSF.
Meanwhile, shippers are under increasing pressure to be able to report on the carbon intensity of their supply chains including transport.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation has set a goal to improve fuel efficiency by two per cent each year and to have carbon neutral growth by 2020 and has committed to agreeing a global deal this year.
GSF climate change policy advisor, Rachael Dillon (pictured), said: “We support the focus on addressing carbon reduction via operational and fuel efficiency measures first and then using a global market-based measure based on carbon offsetting to address the remaining emissions. However, as with any market-based measure, we are concerned that costs can simply be passed down the supply chain to shippers.”
A pragmatic approach will need to be taken during ICAO’s 39th Assembly later this month as 191 Member States will need to reach consensus to sign off the global deal, GSF added. Just a few weeks ago, it emerged that significant changes had been made to the planned offsetting approach. It was originally expected that the GMBM would begin from 2021 but instead a voluntary phase will be put in place until 2027 when the obligations become mandatory.
Ms Dillon added: “The initial voluntary phase should help ease the path to achieving the global deal and GSF will be closely following the negotiations at ICAO this September. Offsetting offers a simple and effective mechanism to reduce aviation’s emissions but we must ensure that cost burdens are shared between operators and customers as the technical elements of the deal are ironed out.”

Tags: Global Shippers’ Forum, GSF