UN agency agrees to establish world’s first aviation climate deal
MONTREAL — The world’s first climate deal aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions from international air travel was overwhelmingly approved Thursday by a United Nations aviation agency.
Delegates to the International Civil Aviation Organization general assembly in Montreal approved the creation of a new global market-based measure to control carbon dioxide emissions from international aviation. Its aim is for aviation to become carbon neutral after 2020 and to halve net emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.
Some 64 of ICAO’s 191 member countries, including Canada, China and the United States, agreed to voluntarily participate in the program between 2021 and 2026 until it becomes mandatory, with exemptions for small, undeveloped countries with little international aviation.
Transport Minister Marc Garneau welcomed the deal, saying Canada played a leadership role, working for months behind the scenes to bring as many countries on board as possible.