The "International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition" was introduced at Cop26 and has been signed by 21 other member states, including Canada, France, Japan and Italy.
In agreeing to the declaration, the signatories will acknowledge the impact Covid-19 continues to have on the sector and the need to develop initiatives that enable the aviation industry to "continue to build back better" and grow in a "sustainable manner".
It will also emphasise that international action on tackling aviation emissions is "essential", given the global nature of the sector.
The members will implement short-, medium- and long-term goals through the Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which includes the development of a global sustainability framework to support the deployment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
The eight points the UK government and member states have committed to are as follows:
- Work together to advance "ambitious actions" to reduce aviation CO2 emissions at a rate consistent with efforts to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C.
- Support the adoption by ICAO of an "ambitious long-term aspirational goal" in view of the industry’s commitments towards net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
- Ensure the "maximum effectiveness" of CORSIA.
- Promote the development and deployment, through international and national measures, of SAF that reduces lifecycle emissions and contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Promote the development of "innovative" low- and zero-carbon aircraft technologies that can reduce aviation CO2 emissions.
- Prepare state action plans detailing "ambitious and concrete" national action to reduce aviation emissions and submit these plans to ICAO in advance of the 41st ICAO assembly.
- Promote capacity building support for the implementation of CORSIA and other ICAO climate measures.
- Convene periodically at both ministerial and official levels with a view to advance and review progress on the above commitments.
