By Beaven Dhliwayo
Harare – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Monday said it has approved a resolution calling for governments to implement policies to accelerate the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
IATA made the resolution during its 73rd Annual General Meeting (AGM).
It reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to work with governments to implement the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) global CO2 emissions agreement.
In a statement IATA Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac said, “The CORSIA agreement is a vital part of our strategy on combating aviation emissions. We are committed to carbon neutral growth from 2020 and to cutting net emissions to half 2005 levels by 2050.”
Juniac said while offsetting is critical to managing emissions in the short-term, in the long-term there is need to rely on clean technology improvements to achieve stated goals.
“Sustainable aviation fuels are an integral part of our comprehensive strategy but at the moment they are not being produced in enough quantity at a competitive cost,”.
“The Resolution calls upon governments to implement policies to accelerate the deployment of SAF, including the creation of the appropriate regulatory framework to expedite the development of production facilities.
De Juniac also said Governments have a role in providing incentives to make SAF commercially viable, just as they do with supporting the solar power for homes or electrically-powered cars.
In addition, de Juniac said investing in SAF capacity will help to reduce emissions and create new opportunities for economic growth.
IATA plays a leading role in an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) working group which will define globally-harmonized sustainability requirements for SAF in the context of the CORSIA agreement.
“It is important that people are reassured that CORSIA-compliant sustainable aviation fuels will be held to the highest environmental standards. Our resolution makes clear our determination that we will only use SAF that conserve an ecological balance, and avoid the depletion of natural resources,” said de Juniac.
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