Purpose, objective and goals of the UN Convention on Climate Change Environmental Treaty.
Purpose.To combat "dangerous human interference in the climate system."To acknowledging that change in the Earth’s climate and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind.Ultimate objective.Stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human) interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
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“Adverse effects of climate change” means changes in the physical environment or biota resulting from climate change which have significant deleterious effects on the composition, resilience or productivity of natural and managed ecosystems or on the operation of socio-economic systems or on human health and welfare. “Climate change” means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. “Climate system” means the totality of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere and their interactions. “Emissions” means the release of greenhouse gases and/or their precursors into the atmosphere over a specified area and period of time. “Greenhouse gases” means those gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. “Regional economic integration organization” means an organization constituted by sovereign States of a given region which has competence in respect of matters governed by this Convention or its protocols and has been duly authorized, in accordance with its internal procedures, to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the instruments concerned.
"Reservoir” means a component or components of the climate system where a greenhouse gas or a precursor of a greenhouse gas is stored. “Sink” means any process, activity or mechanism which removes a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. “Source” means any process or activity which releases a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
Aviation emissions are treated in different ways by each regulator!
In a recent bulletin the European Civil Aviation Connference (ECAC) Secretariat explained how aviation emissions are addressed differently:
UNFCCC - tackles emissions from fuel used in domestic operations
COP - Conference of the Parties is provided with all information from all Parties related to implementation, in accordance with Article 12 of UNFCCC.
ICAO - oversees international aviation CO2 emissions.
Their priorities for 2022 are:
1. innovation,
2. safety and security and;
3. environment.
COP/UNFCCC & ICAO consult with these industry representatives:ACI World and,
ICCAIA.
ICAO high level conference focus for 2022.
Conference event: "One Vision for Aviation Recovery, Resilience and Sustainability beyond the Global Pandemic.”
Result: Ministerial declaration issued.
Intervention plan agreed for:1. role of vaccination in enabling the removal of travel restrictions, and;2. need for sustainable recovery in the broadest sense,
a. encompassing economic resilience,
b. environmental considerations, in particular; c. climate change given coming political decisions on this subject.
Facilitating the strength & resilience of aviation:
1. Improving ICAOs crisis management framework by:
2. agreeing on the interoperability of digital health certificates - seen as a European priority,3. adherence to ICAO CART recommendations,
4. assisting aircraft accident victims and their families, and;
5. supporting accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
Demystifying the basics of carbon markets for aviation such as:
1. the mechanisms of carbon trading and offsetting,
2. the curent evolution of carbon pricing,
3. ICAO CORSIA’s compliant CO2 Emission Unit’s projects. This processes is being managed by 59 participants from 30 States and organisations including experts from ECAC’s sister regional organisation, the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).
Climate change risks and adaptation needs for European aviation.
Supported by EUROCONTROL and airports from Greece, the Netherlands and Sweden.First ECAC workshop on sustainable aviation fuels.The first ECAC Workshop on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), focuses on important international and European developments on SAF policies, including the:
1. ReFuel Aviation regulatory proposal, with inputs from,
2. ACAO, AFCAC, the European Commission, EASA & ECAC States, ICAO and the ECAC Secretariat, IATA, Copenhagen Airport, the World Economic Forum and the International Transport Forum of OECD. 3. Emphasised is being placed on how SAF is an essential element of the aviation industry’s pathway to net-zero carbon aviation in 2050.
4. ECAC Member States are sharing information on SAF at European level covering activities such as:
a. the ECAC Capacity-Building Programme for Environment.
b. an ad hoc ECAC SAF task group under the aegis of the European Aviation Environment Group (EAEG) – Expanded.
c. the best practices and harmonised SAF policies in the Member States.
Informationn sharing. 1. Contributes to ECAC technical work.2. Provided by 95 participants from 33 States and 9 organisations.2022 plan.
SAF events will be held in 2022 under the ECAC Environment Capacity-Building Programme.