The path to nett-zero carbon emissions by 2050 presents the aviation industry with its greatest opportunity for innovation and growth, ICAO Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar, told global airline leaders at the IATA World Sustainability Symposium recently in Miami.
Salazar called for unprecedented collaboration to accelerate the sector's green transition.
"By successfully navigating this transition, we can strengthen aviation's position as a driver of sustainable development worldwide, connecting people and markets while respecting environmental boundaries."
Salazar’s keynote address outlined ICAO's new long-term Strategic Plan 2026-2050, which includes the ambitious goal of achieving nett-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in international civil aviation operations.
The plan builds on the Long-term Global Aspirational Goal agreed upon by ICAO Member States in 2022 and the Global Framework on Sustainable Aviation Fuels established at the third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels in 2023.
A key focus of the address was the need for increased scaling up in the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). ICAO's Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels programme was highlighted as a crucial initiative in this area.
Salazar also introduced the ICAO Finvest Hub, a new platform aimed at linking clean energy project proposals with financing opportunities.
The importance of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation was reaffirmed, with a call for continued industry support for its implementation.
Salazar also touched upon ICAO's recent symposium on non-CO2 aviation emissions, inviting industry experts to contribute to this emerging area of study.
In his concluding remarks, he emphasised the need for united advocacy efforts to showcase aviation's progress in reducing its environmental footprint and its role in driving economic development.
He called on all stakeholders to work together to tell aviation's "great story" to the world and accelerate progress towards the shared goal of eliminating air transport emissions.
