Emissions-cutting aviation deal must be enforceable -NGOs

By Allison Lampert
MONTREAL, March 21 (Reuters) - A deal this fall to cap
carbon emissions from global aviation at 2020 levels must be
enforceable and set long-term goals in line with the 2015 Paris
agreement on climate change, a coalition of environmental groups
said on Monday.
Aviation was excluded from the landmark climate accord in
Paris in December. But carbon emissions from the sector could
triple by 2050 if left unchecked, the International Coalition
for Sustainable Aviation, which represents a half dozen
non-profit groups, warned in a statement.
In Paris, countries agreed to limit the rise in global
temperatures to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees
Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.
"Now, countries need to fulfill their Paris promises by
ensuring that the aviation industry does its fair share," Brad
Schallert, a senior program officer at the World Wildlife Fund,
said in the statement.
While other transportation modes, such as the maritime
industry, are also discussing ways to limit emissions, the
world's attention is centered on aviation - a sector that would
be the world's seventh-largest carbon emitter if it were a
country.
The International Civil Aviation Organization has until
October to finalize a deal that would cap and cut the carbon
pollution of all international flights. The market-based plan
must win the support of the International Civil Aviation
Organization's 190 member countries at its Montreal assembly, or
risk the EU breaking off talks and imposing its own emissions
trading plan on international airlines.
The International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation, which
is closely following the ICAO talks, said any deal must have
clear compliance requirements that are enforceable and include
accurate flight-by-flight emissions monitoring.
The coalition also said a deal should be subject to review
to help the aviation industry meet its more ambitious goal of
cutting carbon emissions by 50 percent in 2050 from 2005 levels.