Despite criticism from the European Parliament over the concessions that it was prepared to make to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on the contribution of the aviation sector to tackling climate change, the European Commission is hopeful that a satisfactory outcome will be achieved in the forthcoming negotiations in Montreal from 27 September to 7 October.
Addressing the European press, European Commission representatives were optimistic in Brussels on Monday 12 September that a large number of countries will, from 2020, join the global market-based measure (GMBM) to tackle international air transport emissions. The GMBM is due to be approved by ICAO at its general assembly.
EU- ECAC Bratislava Declaration. The reason for this optimism is that the EU and 44 countries have expressed their intention to join the system from the start, i.e. from 2021, in a written declaration adopted in Bratislava on Friday 9 September. In the declaration, they call on all other countries to join them in the GMBM and they set out precisely what they expect of the new system. The Bratislava Declaration signatory countries are the 28 members of the EU and the other members of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC): Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Turkey and Ukraine.
“The United States, Canada and Mexico are taking the same line”, an expert has indicated. According to the draft ICAO text, the system aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2020, then offsetting of surplus emissions by civil aviation by other sectors. It will only become fully operational in 2027, a timescale that deeply concerns the European Parliament (see EUROPE 11620).
The Bratislava Declaration recognises the need for international air transport to contribute towards the achievement of the Paris Agreement targets. It underlines that, in Europe’s view, the measure should be: applicable to all states, with the exception of those, the least developed nations, for example, which are exempted; aim at an emissions coverage that enables carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onwards; include a solid review clause that focuses on the need to increase environmental ambition over time and in light of the global objectives established under the Paris Agreement; take into account the special circumstances and respective capabilities of states, while ensuring non-discrimination such that all operators will be treated alike on the same route and avoiding market distortion.
The issue will be on the agenda for the G7 transport ministers’ meeting in Japan on 22-23 September. Violetta Bulc will represent the Commission at this meeting. “We hope to be able to send out a strong message in the name of the transport ministers”, said an expert. Thereafter, it will be the head of the Commission’s Directorate General MOVE who will lead the Montreal delegation.
“We hope to be able to persuade the countries belonging to the high-ambition coalition (Ed: which played a decisive role in the conclusion of the Paris climate agreement on 12 December 2015). Countries with only a small aviation sector would be well advised to be on board”, stated the expert, suggesting the possibility of selling emissions credits.
Security among the other EU priorities at ICAO. The market-based measure to address climate issues is one of the EU’s priorities for the ICAO general assembly but it is not the only one. Among other EU priorities highlighted by the Commission experts are: information exchange and the development of guidelines for all countries, large or small, on cyber threats; information sharing between airlines to guarantee the security of flights over conflict zones, within their own territory and in the neighbouring area; drones, on which the EU believes work should begin immediately to improve security rules internationally; support for developing countries to help them acquire security skills and environmental standards. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)