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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19): The International Air Transport Association (IATA), together with ÿ�մ���, Japan and leading industry stakeholders, have urged governments and the international community to reaffirm the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s leadership and accelerate coordinated climate action towards net-zero aviation by 2050. 

The association said the signatories, in a joint statement issued at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), specifically highlight the need for global solutions, emphasising that ICAO remains the exclusive forum for addressing international aviation emissions.

“The signatories caution against fragmented or unilateral measures, stressing that only a unified approach can deliver effective climate results for the sector,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Besides that, IATA noted that the signatories also stress the role of robust global carbon markets in scaling up climate finance opportunities, which is high on the COP agenda and central to the Baku to Belem Roadmap. 

The signatories of the joint statement include the ÿ�մ���n government, the Japanese government, Airlines for Europe, Arab Air Carriers Organisation, Airports Council International, Airlines International Representation in Europe, Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association, African Airlines Association, International Business Aviation Council, and World Travel and Tourism Council. 

On the key points of the joint statement, IATA said the statement reaffirms ICAO’s authority, established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, as the sole body for regulating international aviation emissions. 

“The signatories call on all governments to strengthen the implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), approved by all 193 ICAO member states, which is a cornerstone for achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“In CORSIA’s first phase (2024-2026), airlines are expected to purchase upwards of 200 million credits, generating US$4 billion (RM16.59 billion) to US$5 billion,” it said.

IATA said this will increase steeply in the following years, given that the scheme is expected to offset nearly two billion credits through 2035.

It also said that the joint statement calls on all host countries to operationalise Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, issue Letters of Authorisation (LOAs), and enable the release of CORSIA-Eligible Emissions Units.

“These steps are essential to mobilise international climate finance and support sustainable development,” it said. 

“The signatories also caution that taxes and levies, notably ticket taxes such as those proposed by emerging coalitions, are not effective climate instruments and risk negatively impacting investment capacity into real emission-reduction projects,” it said.

It added that such measures could impair connectivity and disproportionately harm developing economies and small island states. 

Meanwhile, IATA’s director general Willie Walsh said governments must reaffirm ICAO’s role as the single global authority, fully implement CORSIA, and operationalise Article 6 to unlock climate finance for developing nations to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Fragmented taxes and levies will not cut emissions. They risk diverting funds from actual emission-reduction investments, which is a critical climate consideration and will only weaken connectivity and harm those who depend on it most,” he said.