Oğuzhan İleri

                                                                                               


ICAO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Improving the environmental performance of aviation is a challenge ICAO takes very seriously. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Organization developed a range of standards, policies and guidance material for the application of integrated measures to address aircraft noise and engine emissions embracing technological improvements, operating procedures, proper organization of air traffic, appropriate airport and land-use planning, and the use of market-based options.

All of this has contributed to aircraft operations that today can be 70% more efficient than in the 1970s.

In 2004, ICAO adopted three major environmental goals, to:

a. limit or reduce the number of people affected by significant aircraft noise;

b. limit or reduce the impact of aviation emissions on local air quality; and

c. limit or reduce the impact of aviation greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate.

The ICAO Council also adopted Strategic Objectives, with high priority given to environmental protection, while the new Business Plan asserts the Organization's status as the leading international organization pursuing unified and coordinated measures to reduce civil aviation's impact on the environment.

ICAO's activities in the environment field are primarily focused on those problems that benefit most from a common co-ordinated approach, on a worldwide basis, namely aircraft noise and the impact of aircraft engine emissions.

Most of this work is undertaken through the ICAO Council's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), which consists of Members and Observers from States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations representing aviation industry and environmental interests.

A Consolidated Statement of continuing policies and practices related to environmental protection is revised and updated by the Council every three years for adoption by the ICAO Assembly. The present version were adopted in October 2013.

ICAO maintains close relations with other UN policy-making bodies that have expressed an interest in civil aviation, notably with the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to which it provides regular statements on ICAO's emission-related activities.



ICAO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME

In 2010, the 37th Session of the ICAO Assembly reaffirmed the responsibility of ICAO and its Member States to achieve maximum compatibility between the safe and orderly development of civil aviation and the quality of the environment. It focused the Organization’s efforts in this regard on three environmental goals:

• To limit or reduce the number of people affected by significant aircraft noise.

• To limit or reduce the impact of aviation emissions on local air quality.

• To limit or reduce the impact of aviation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the global climate.


This mandate is carried out by ICAO’s Air Transport Bureau, which oversees the activities of the Organization’s Environment Branch and Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) – a recognized international forum of environmental experts from both the regulatory and industry sectors.

The ICAO Council reviews and adopts CAEP recommendations. It informs and provides recommendations to the ICAO Assembly, which meets every three years to establish policies on all aviation matters including aviation environmental protection. The Organization also produces complementary studies, reports, manuals, and circulars on the subject of aviation and the environment.

With respect to ICAO’s work on aircraft noise, the ICAO Balanced Approach policy for noise management provides the framework under which States can address noise issues around their airports. In recent years the CAEP has been conducting a thorough review of new technologies available for the reduction of noise at source, undertaking substantial work on the environmental and economic impacts of adopting more stringent noise certification standards. This work culminated in consensus agreement during the CAEP/9 meeting in February 2013 to recommend a new Chapter 14 Noise Standard which is 7 EPNdB below ICAO’s current limit.

On the issue of local air quality improvement, ICAO has already adopted regulatory Standards for the certification of nitrogen oxide (NO x ), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons (HC). A great deal of new information is also now becoming available in the field of particulate matter (PM) and its impacts, which will potentially lead to the development of a new standard in this area.

Climate change was the main focus of the environment-related deliberations at the 37th Assembly and it was noted that, to reduce international aviation CO 2 emissions and promote sustainable aviation growth, a comprehensive approach would be necessary. This is where the Organization’s efforts have been focused since 2010, progressing work on the development of a “basket” of measures which includes technological standards, operational measures, alternative fuels, and market-based measures. Very positive results have been achieved on all fronts.

I look forward to seeing how the 38th Assembly will respond to these outcomes, and especially to the new priorities and roadmap it will set for the international aviation community on all matters relating to aviation environmental protection.

Boubacar Djibo

Director, Air Transport Bureau (ATB)

CARBON EMISSION CALCULATOR

ICAO has developed a methodology to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions from air travel for use in offset programmes.

The ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator allows passengers to estimate the emissions attributed to their air travel. It is simple to use and requires only a limited amount of information from the user.

The methodology applies the best publicly available industry data to account for various factors such as aircraft types, route specific data, passenger load factors and cargo carried.

The Carbon Calculator is additionally available in the Apple App Store as an iPhone and iPad aplication

Press here to calculate carbon footprint


REFERENCES

http://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/Pages/default.aspx

ICAO Environmental Report 2013-Aviation and Climate Change