By Will Nichols, Source: BusinessGreen

International aviation bodies have been urged to “end 10 years of delay” and agree a global mechanism to limit the sector’s soaring greenhouse gas emissions.

The High Level Group established by UN body the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) meets this week in Montreal ahead of a full council meeting in March where a proposal for a market-based mechanism is set to be tabled.

Civil aviation currently accounts for about two per cent of global emissions, but without action its contribution is expected to increase to as much as 11 per cent by 2050 as demand for air travel spirals. An international agreement is considered the fairest way to tackle rising emissions, while conforming to existing aviation treaties and the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’ (CBDRRC) that governs UN climate change negotiations.

Following discussions going back more than a decade, ICAO is under mounting pressure to come up with a solution after the EU last year ‘stopped the clock’ for a year on its own aviation emissions regulations in the hope the pause would encourage governments to agree an international deal.

A new report published today by WWF assesses the four market-based measures currently being considered: offsetting, offsetting with a revenue generating mechanism, a cap-and-trade scheme and a fuel levy with offsetting.

It finds all options are technically and economically feasible, although the latter three are deemed capable of cutting emissions more cost-effectively, while at the same time generating between $3.6bn and $26.3bn of funding to help developing countries combat climate change by 2030. Importantly, all three would also ensure a level playing field for airlines, according to WWF.

However, the group goes on to warn that without an international deal this year emissions will not only continue to rise, but airlines would also find themselves subject to the kind of patchwork of legislation that has already been blamed for souring relations between the EU and the US and China. Beijing allegedly cancelled a $14bn order with Airbus to highlight its displeasure with EU rules that charged carriers based on the amount of carbon emitted on all flights in and out of its airports.

Samantha Smith, leader of the WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative, said there has “never been a more opportune time” to solve the issue and insisted a deal was in reach.

“We invite governments to end 10 years of delay and reach a global deal on aviation,” she said. “We just need the political will and courage to make a global market-based measure happen.”