Over 800 participants from all world regions gathered recently at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) CORSIA Forum to share their views on the progress being made on CORSIA implementation, as well as on its future programme objectives and expectations relating to the next ICAO Assembly taking place next year.
Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General
Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General, in his opening remarks, emphasized the need to act now to avoid catastrophic consequences of climate change, and the role of CORSIA in contributing to ICAO Member States’ commitment to take further action.
“I urge you all to keep in mind a key message of the IPCC/6 report, which emphasized that there is no time to lose,” he noted. “Action must be taken now if we are to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change on our planet, and CORSIA periodic reviews are an opportunity to demonstrate that action,” Mr. Salazar added.
According to ICAO, the Forum showcased the experience and capacity building undertaken by countries to support CORSIA since the inception of its CO2 Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system, highlighting the challenges that had been overcome and ongoing ICAO work on analyzing the impacts from COVID-19 on CORSIA.
The event also included a roundtable discussion between ICAO Council representatives, airline industry, civil society, and carbon market experts, on the future of CORSIA and its linkages with countries’ current investigations through ICAO into a new long-term goal for international flight emissions reduction.
Salvatore Sciacchitano ICAO President
Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, ICAO Council President, re-emphasized to the participants that aviation takes its sustainability responsibilities very seriously, underscoring the recent commitments by air industry manufacturers and operators to achieve Net-Zero carbon emissions from all commercial air transport activity by 2050.
“The aviation sector has always dealt with challenge and adversity through its resolve and consensus,” Mr. Sciacchitano underscored.