The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is pulling out all the stops to make sure the airline industry doesn’t get hit with a global agreement over airline emissions reductions at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, which kicks off on Dec 7.

UN Climate Change Conference

In 1997, the airline industry got itself an exemption from the Kyoto Protocol, mostly because of disagreements amongst member nations over how airline emissions would be allocated along the flight path.

But now, everyone seems to be on the same page, and with both President Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao headed for Copenhagen with a pledge to cut emissions, there’s no doubt that the airline industry is going to have to face the music.

In fact, the IATA is now calling for global accounting of emissions to be done by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In a bid to pre-empt tougher measures, the IATA has also been pitching it’s own targets and strategy to cut airline emissions on a global scale.

Their targets – (1) 25% improvement in fuel efficiency by 2020 compared to 2005, with all grown to be carbon neutral by 2020 (2) to use 10% alternative fuels by 2017, and (3) 50% absolute reduction in emissions by 2050, with a 1.5% reduction in emissions every year over the next decade. 

Their strategy – 1. Green Initiatives – Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO, says that IATA is working with airlines around the world to implement best practices. This work is now saving around 30 million tonnes of CO2 each year.

Giovanni Bisignani, IATA

2. Fuel efficiency improvement -  Fuel efficiency improved 70% over the past forty years, and 23% in the last decade, mostly due to better aircraft and engines.

3. Logistics: IATA’s work to shorten routes is saving at least a further 30 million tonnes of CO2.

4. Offset Programs: The IATA is working with airlines and pushing them to broaden the scope and availability of carbon offset programs to travelers, with more than 30 airlines already offering offsets for flights.

Fair enough, but IATA’s desperation becomes plain, when you consider some of the baseless facts and arguments they’re using, like the 8% reduction in emissions this year. 6% of it was due to the recession.

Another angle they’re playing is with fuel efficiency improvements and logistics, which is dependent largely on the modernisation of the airlines’ fleets and the ATC technology. IATA’s argument is that they can’t do much unless programs like NEXTGEN are implemented by governments. What they don’t add is that they – or their brethen, are the ones who have been putting off the implementation because of the costs involved.

And lastly, IATA still refuses to own up to the reality of global warming and the airline industry’s role in it. Their website says “Aviation’s Climate Change Impact is Small… scientists disagree over the amount, probability and nature of these changes.. etc. “  The 2% they’re taking responsibilty for is incorrect and outdated.

All this puts the IATA in the rather ridiculous position of denying aviation related climate change while voluntarily taking steps to reduce emissions, and calling for airline technology improvements while trying to stall it themselves.

Conference photo courtesy of IISD/ ENB-Leila Mead