(a) whether it is a fact that the Government is considering to keep the aviation sector out of climate deal/agreement and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any proposal to cut the carbon footprint of airlines across the globe was discussed in an assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization recently and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto and the follow-up action taken thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 168. By SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM regarding ‘Carbon Footprint of Airlines’
(a) to (c) Emissions from international civil aviation are addressed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol. Under the Paris Agreement for post-2020 period, countries are obliged to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which are country driven and therefore countries can choose to include aviation emissions if they so desire.
In the 39th General Assembly meeting of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) held during 27th September – 7th October 2016, it was agreed to adopt to Carbon Offsetting & Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) to reduce the emissions from international aviation.
CORSIA is to be implemented in phases, starting with participation of States on a voluntary basis in a Pilot phase from 2021 to 2023. First implementation phase from 2024 to 2026 applies to States that have volunteered to participate in the scheme; and Second phase from 2027 to 2035 applies to all States that have an individual share of international aviation activities in Revenue Tonne-Kilometres (RTKs) in year 2018 above 0.5 per cent of total RTKs or whose cumulative share in the list of States from the highest to the lowest amount of RTKs reaches 90 per cent of total RTKs. Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) are exempted unless they volunteer to participate in this phase.
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