UN aviation agency throws lifeline to fossil fuels, hampering effectiveness of global emissions deal | WPN World People News

In response to the decision from the countries on the UN International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) governing Council on a detailed set of rules to operationalize a plan to curb emissions from international aviation, WWF released the following statements:

UN aviation agency throws lifeline to fossil fuels, hampering effectiveness of global emissions deal

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF’s global climate and energy programme, said:

“A policy is only as strong as the rules that govern it. By deciding to credit fossil fuels, the countries have weakened the aviation climate deal’s rules and jeopardized airlines’ ability to reduce carbon emissions from international aviation at the scale needed to keep global warming to 1.5°C.

“While many countries and non-state actors are ramping up climate action, it is extremely disappointing to see countries undermining this global aviation climate policy they agreed to in 2016.”

Brad Schallert, WWF-US’s deputy director for international climate cooperation, said:

“Allowing airlines to get credit for lower carbon fossil fuels runs counter to the very purpose of the policy: to help aviation take off towards a sustainable future.

“There’s no place for any type of fossil fuels in a climate protection policy. This aviation climate deal needs an operational plan that helps aviation transition away from fossil fuels, not one that provides a lifeline to fossil fuels interests while undermining budding new sustainable aviation fuels.”

Source: World Wildlife Fund