TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORTATIONOECD International Conference, Vancouver Canada
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORTATION
The main objective of environmental management is to preserve the carrying capacity of the environment in order to achieve sustainable development. The international civil aviation industry contributes to global, transboundary and local air pollution. From a policy point of view, carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) are currently believed to be the most important emissions from aircraft. For both substances, emissions of air transport account for a share of between 2 and 3% of world emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Since international civil aviation will continue to grow at higher rates than the world economy, its relative share in world emissions will rise in the future. Model calculations suggest that, on the basis of present policy, worldwide aviation emissions in 2015 will be three times those in 1990, and will then account for 3 to 4% of all emissions due to the combustion of fossil fuels.
With firm and clear policy action, such as implementation of technical, operational and economic measures, considerable reductions in aviation emissions can be achieved.
The international nature of air transport leaves little room for individual countries to pursue an autonomous policy. Therefore, a successful policy that allows the international civil aviation industry to contribute to sustainable development must be predicated on an international approach.
Although the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) obviously should have an important role in reducing the environmental impact of international civil aviation, its actual role highly depends on the positions of individual countries within this organization. Recent developments in ICAO's Committee on Aviation and Environmental Protection (CAEP) confirm this. The Netherlands has deep concern over these developments and would like to discuss with the participants of the conference possible ways to strengthen a global approach towards sustainable air transportation.
Henk C.G.M. Brouwer, Jochem H.A.M. Peeters