The International Air Transport Association (IATA) wants world leaders to help reduce aviation emissions under the helm of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
In proposals submitted by IATA for the UN Climate Change Summit, the aviation sector outlined three areas it said required addressing if carbon emissions were to be decreased.
The IATA document says each nation has to improve its aviation carbon output, with a 1.5% average annual improvement in fuel efficiency to 2020 required to reduce emissions by 50% by 2050 on 2005 figures.
To do this, IATA wants to see governments commit funds to environmental initiatives in the aviation sector.
It has also called for a level playing field to be created with regard to global carbon markets.
With innovations in technology, developments in infrastructure and operation, and economic measures such as carbon markets, the aviation industry’s emissions are expected to decrease by 7% in 2009.
IATA director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said the introduction of NextGen air traffic management in the USA and the Single European Sky in Europe have the potential alone to save 41 million tons of CO2 annually.
“Governments must also create the legal and fiscal framework to support the development of sustainable biofuels for aviation,” he added.
