Secretary General advocates for sustainable aviation policy at World Governments Summit

Contributing to a panel discussion on “Aviation and Emissions: Can Governments Find A Balance?” at the World Governments Summit currently taking place in Dubai, ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar (pictured centre) highlighted the crucial importance of governments’ support for the policies and investments needed to realize their net zero ambitions.

Convened by the World Governments Summit Organization, the Summit is intended to “explore the agenda of the next generation of governments, focusing on harnessing innovation and technology to solve universal challenges facing humanity.” The Secretary General was joined on the panel by Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury (pictured right) which was moderated by CNN Correspondent and Anchor Richard Quest.

Mr. Salazar highlighted that while innovative aircraft technologies and operational improvements will bring their share of emission reductions, fuels and other energy sources are expected to deliver over half of the emission reductions needed. He reviewed the very significant steps States have taken forward under ICAO’s leadership towards this goal, pointing to their adoption of the ICAO Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF) and other Aviation Cleaner Energies at a recent conference that also took place in Dubai.

The Secretary General outlined the variety of efforts ICAO is undertaking to support governments in their efforts, with a special emphasis on the ICAO “Finvest Hub” initiative which is currently under development. This hub will facilitate enhanced access to public and private investment capacities and funding from financial institutions, with a focus on developing countries and States with particular needs.

Mr. Salazar also addressed the importance of accelerating innovation in the aviation sector in terms of realizing the technologies and operational improvements that will deliver the remainder of the reduction in emissions. In this regard, he underscored that ICAO itself is innovating to ensure that its standard setting and strategic work keeps pace with the needs and expectations of the aviation innovation ecosystem, which comprises core aviation stakeholders and new entrants from outside the sector.

Concluding his remarks, the Secretary General urged the attending governments, industry partners and other stakeholders to “reflect on how you can support these efforts.”