Working Papers by Item

 

 

WP/21 EX/4	Civil aviation and the environment (04/05/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/22 EX/5	United Nations Climate Neutral Initiative (26/05/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/23 EX/6	Aviation and alternative fuels (25/05/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/24 EX/7	Consolidated statement of continuing ICAO policies and practices related to environmental protection - General provisions, noise and local air quality (04/06/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/25 EX/8	Consolidated statement of continuing ICAO policies and practices related to environmental protection - Climate Change (24/09/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/26 EX/9	Present and future aircraft noise and emissions trends (21/07/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/27 EX/10	Developments in other United Nations bodies (06/08/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/262 EX/53	International aviation and climate change – Proposal for Assembly Resolution (21/09/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/361 P /35	Report of the Executive Committee on Agenda item 17 (4/10/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh
WP/402 P/66	Report of the Executive Committee on Agenda item 17, Section on climate change (7/10/10)	en	fr	es	ru	ar	zh

Livestream videos

1. ICAO Carbon Emission Calculator
   http://www.livestream.com/icao
    
2. Feasibility of Achieving Climate Change Goals for International Aviation
   http://www.livestream.com/icao
    
3. Aviation and climate change
   http://www.livestream.com/icao
4. Alternative fuels. (Will be available shortly)
   

37th Assembly, Agenda Item 17: Environmental Protection

Since the 36th Session of the ICAO Assembly held in September 2007, ICAO’s main effort in environmental protection has continued to be focused on addressing the impact of aviation emissions on climate change. In particular ICAO has responded to the mandate given by the Assembly to develop an aggressive ICAO Programme of Action on International Aviation and Climate Change.

Accordingly, ICAO established a Group on International Aviation and Climate Change (GIACC) to develop the Programme of Action, and convened a High-level Meeting on International Aviation and Climate Change in October 2009, where this Programme was adopted. It is, in essence, the first and only globally-harmonized agreement from a sector on a goal to address its CO₂ emissions. The agreement includes:

1. a global goal of 2 per cent annual fuel efficiency improvement up to 2050, and further exploration of the feasibility of even more ambitious medium and long-term goals, including carbon-neutral growth and emissions reduction in the sector;
    
2. development of a global CO₂ Standard for aircraft and the facilitation of further operational changes to reduce aviation emissions;
    
3. development of a framework for market-based measures in international aviation;
    
4. further elaboration on measures to assist developing States and to facilitate access to financial resources, technology transfer and capacity building; and
    
5. voluntary submission of States’ action plans, outlining their policies and actions, and annual reporting of data to ICAO on their aviation fuel consumption.

Development and deployment of sustainable alternative fuels is an important element of ICAO’s comprehensive mitigation strategy that includes technological, operational and market-based measures to address aviation greenhouse gas emissions. The ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels was held in November 2009. The Conference adopted a global framework on the development and deployment of such fuels for aviation, as an important means of reducing aviation emissions.

The Programme of Action approved by the High-level Meeting and the results of the Alternative Fuels Conference were presented to the UNFCCC COP15 in December 2009. In light of the well-known outcome of COP15, ICAO has continued its work to make further progress on the recommendations of the High-level Meeting and the Alternative Fuels Conference. This work proceeds, in particular, in three areas: exploration of more ambitious goals; development of a framework for market-based measures; and elaboration on measures to assist States.

Against this background, the 37th Session of the ICAO Assembly in September 2010 faces significant challenges but, even more so, is presented with exciting possibilities. The Assembly has the opportunity to adopt new, robust set of policies on international aviation and climate change. Results from the Assembly will be brought to the attention of COP16 in Mexico. The following are some of the documents the Assembly will have before it as it reflects and decides on the way forward.

A37-WP/22: UN Climate Neutral Initiative provides a report by the Council on the UN Climate Neutral Initiative. This paper also reviews the progress of the ICAO Carbon Calculator, which represents ICAO’s main contribution to this Initiative and is intended as a tool to support its success.

A37-WP/23: Aviation and Alternative Fuels provides a report by the Council on the progress achieved since the 36th Session of the Assembly in the development and deployment of sustainable alternative fuels for aviation. Activities during that period included the Alternative Fuels Conference in November 2009.

A37-WP/25: Consolidated statement of continuing ICAO policies and practices related to environmental protection – Climate change is submitted by the Council, reporting on progress made by ICAO in the field of international aviation and climate change since the 36th Session of the Assembly, including through the GIACC, the High-level Meeting, the Alternative Fuels Conference and an informal group established by the President of the Council, as a reference for the revision of Appendices I through L of Resolution A36-22. Proposals for the revision of Appendices A through H of Resolution A36-22 are presented in a separate working paper (A37-WP/24, Consolidated statement of continuing ICAO policies and practices related to environmental protection – General provisions, noise and local air quality).

A37-WP/27: Developments in other United Nations Bodies provides a report by the Council on progress made since the 36th Session of the Assembly in relation to aviation and environmental protection in other United Nations bodies. It contains information on developments emanating from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

A37-WP/262: International Aviation and Climate Change presents a proposal by the Secretary General for an Assembly Resolution that replaces Appendices I through L of Resolution A36-22, with a view to facilitating the deliberations of the Assembly.

The Organization continued to actively pursue its technical work on measures to reduce the environmental effects of aviation with the support of its Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). ICAO’s CAEP is composed of leading technical experts in the environmental field from around the world. Their recommendations over the past 40 years have laid the basis for the remarkable progress of civil aviation in minimizing the impact of aircraft noise and aircraft engine emissions through technological, operational and market-based measures.

CAEP held its eighth meeting (CAEP/8) in February 2010 and, among other items, carried out a thorough environmental trends assessment for noise and emissions related to local air quality and climate change. Several models provided by States and regions were utilized for this purpose, and various scenarios were evaluated for a baseline year of 2006 and for the future years 2016, 2026 and 2036. The full-flight fuel burn analysis also considered the year 2050. The Committee also agreed on several recommendations to reduce the impact of aircraft noise and emissions on community noise exposure, local air quality and global climate.

For climate change, among other measures, CAEP committed to a timetable for the development of a CO₂ Standard for commercial aircraft, aiming at 2013. Such a milestone will establish the first global fuel-efficiency standard for any industry sector. The new standard will set clear direction and timeframes for manufacturers to keep producing innovative aircraft design and materials, as well as more fuel-efficient engines, in order to further reduce the impact of aviation on climate change and meet the ambitious goals the sector has set for itself.

CAEP/8 also recommended NO_x (Nitrogen Oxides) standards up to 15 per cent more stringent than the current levels. The proposed standards would apply to new aircraft engines certified after 31 December 2013. A cut-off date of 31 December 2012 was recommended for engines produced under existing NOX standards.

The new standards would help ensure that the most efficient technology is used in the production of aircraft engines in the near future. CAEP also initiated work on assessing the need for a more stringent Standard for aircraft noise. Most of the progress achieved by CAEP is reflected in the following Working Papers.

A37-WP/21: Civil Aviation and the Environment is submitted by the Council, reporting on progress made by ICAO since the 36th Session of the Assembly, mainly related to activities carried out by the Secretariat and the CAEP.

A37-WP/26: Present and Future Aircraft Noise and Emissions Trends provides a separate report by the Council on result of CAEP/8’s environmental trends assessment for noise and emissions related to local air quality and climate change.

A37-WP/24: Consolidated statement of continuing ICAO policies and practices related to environmental protection - General provisions, noise and local air quality by the Council provides a draft text of Appendices A through H of Resolution A36-22 updated to reflect developments since the 36th Session of the Assembly and, in particular, developments from CAEP/8, for adoption by the 37th Session of the ICAO Assembly.

Outcome of 37th Assembly

• Resolution A37-18, Consolidated statement of continuing ICAO policies and practices related to environmental protection – General provisions, noise and local air quality
   
• Resolution A37-19, Consolidated statement of continuing ICAO policies and practices related to environmental protection – Climate change