Global Aviation Leaders at COP30 Push for Unified Action to Reach Net Zero by 2050

The call comes at a time when climate negotiations are increasingly interwoven with the future of transportation, connectivity, and sustainable development.

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), alongside the governments of Japan and Malaysia and major aviation industry bodies, issued a significant joint statement urging governments worldwide to reaffirm the central role of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in leading the aviation sector's climate transition. The statement underscores a unified international approach as the only credible path to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 — a target that has become one of the defining challenges for global aviation.

The call comes at a time when climate negotiations are increasingly interwoven with the future of transportation, connectivity, and sustainable development. Aviation, responsible for around 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions, faces mounting pressure to decarbonize rapidly while preserving the economic and social benefits that global air travel provides.

ICAO as the Single Global Authority for Aviation Emissions

The joint statement reinforces ICAO's mandate as the exclusive global forum for addressing emissions from international flights. This authority is rooted in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, both of which designate ICAO to lead on aviation climate policy.

The signatories warn against fragmented, unilateral or regional measures—such as isolated taxes, levies or overlapping carbon requirements—arguing that such approaches risk undermining the efficiency and coherence of global climate action. Only coordinated regulation through ICAO, they stress, can ensure fairness, consistency, and real emissions reductions across borders.

Strengthening CORSIA: The Cornerstone of Global Aviation Decarbonization

A central element of the statement is the call to fully implement and strengthen the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Currently backed by all 193 ICAO Member States, CORSIA is designed to limit net emissions from international flights by requiring airlines to purchase high-quality carbon credits for their excess emissions.

Key Figures Highlighting CORSIA's Scale

• 200+ million credits expected to be purchased by airlines during the 2024–2026 First Phase

• USD 4–5 billion in climate finance mobilized across these first years

• Nearly 2 billion credits projected to be offset through 2035

This expanding carbon market is expected to channel billions into certified climate projects — particularly in developing nations — supporting renewable energy initiatives, conservation work, technology transfer, job creation, and broader sustainable development objectives aligned with the Paris Agreement.

Article 6 Implementation: Unlocking Global Climate Finance

The joint statement emphasizes the urgent need for countries to operationalize Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which governs international carbon markets and cooperative emissions-reduction mechanisms. The signatories specifically call on host countries to issue Letters of Authorization (LoAs) and enable the release of CORSIA-Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs).

Failure to implement Article 6, they warn, risks bottlenecking the entire system of aviation climate finance, undermining both emissions reductions and development opportunities.

Taxes and Levies Are Not Climate Solutions, Advocates Warn

A strong message in the statement pushes back against unilateral aviation taxes, including ticket levies proposed by emerging coalitions. The signatories argue that such measures:

• Do not directly reduce emissions

• Divert financial resources away from decarbonization technologies such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), carbon capture, new propulsion systems, and green infrastructure

• Threaten global air connectivity

• Disproportionately impact developing economies and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that depend heavily on aviation

IATA Director General Willie Walsh reiterated this concern, stating: "Fragmented taxes and levies will not cut emissions — they risk diverting funds from actual emission-reduction investments and will only weaken connectivity and harm those who depend on it most."

A Broad Coalition of Global Aviation Stakeholders

The joint statement reflects an exceptionally broad coalition representing governments, airlines, airports, manufacturers, and tourism bodies. Signatories include:

Governments

• Japan

• Malaysia

Major Aviation and Transport Organizations

• Airlines for Europe (A4E)

• Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO)

• Airports Council International (ACI)

• Airlines International Representation in Europe (AIRE)

• Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA)

• Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA)

• Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA)

• Air Transport Action Group (ATAG)

• European Regions Airline Association (ERA)

• International Business Aviation Council (IBAC)

• International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA)

• National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC)

• World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

This diversity underscores the global nature of the aviation network — and the importance of unified regulation to maintain a level playing field and avoid uneven economic burdens.

The Path Forward: Collaboration, Innovation and Global Governance

As COP30 negotiations continue, the aviation sector is pushing for a balanced approach: strong global governance through ICAO, robust implementation of CORSIA, effective activation of Article 6, and avoidance of policies that undermine connectivity or hinder investment in real decarbonization technologies.

The joint statement makes clear that achieving net zero aviation by 2050 will require:

• Massive scaling of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)

• Advances in hydrogen and electric aircraft

• Improvements in air traffic management

• Modernized fleets and operational efficiencies

• Functioning global carbon markets

• Stable, predictable regulation

With global mobility, trade, tourism, and economic development at stake, aviation leaders are urging governments to maintain a unified strategy — one that balances environmental responsibility with equitable global progress.