Airlines want to be heard in December global eco-talks

FOUR major airlines, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific among them, are demanding their views be considered at United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen this December.

The industry coalition, called Aviation Global Deal (AGD), brings together Cathay Pacific, Air France/KLM, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic as well as UK airport operator BAA.

Emissions from international aviation, which the UN's International Panel on Climate Change says contribute 2 per cent of global CO2 emissions, are not included in the Kyoto Protocol rules.

Meeting in Hong Kong, the airline lobby said aviation must devise a pragmatic, fair and effective global policy to forward to the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as it prepares for the Copenhagen talks.

Said Cathay Pacific CEO Tony Tyler: We hope the work of our group will offer a practical industry-led solution that creates a level-playing field and appeals to policy-makers, environmental groups and businesses alike.

Signatories to the communique say that a new global climate deal for aviation must offer genuine environmental benefits; be operationally and economically sound; maintain competitiveness between airlines and avoid market distortions; reflect the UN climate change principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' between countries with different levels of development; balance the social and economic benefits of flying with the industry's responsibility to cut global emissions and play its part in meeting tough climate change targets; and reflect the work of ICAO's group on International Aviation and Climate Change (GIACC) and IATA's strategy for reducing emissions, the group's statement said.

Source: Transportweekly