Achieving Carbon Neutral Growth in the Airline Industry

Statement

Today the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted an unprecedented global market-based measure (MBM) that puts the international aviation industry on a path toward sustainable, carbon-neutral growth. It builds on over a decade of work by the United States and other ICAO Member States to reduce international aviation emissions by developing new technologies, improved operations, and sustainable alternative fuels. It is another significant step in the global movement to take ambitious action to address climate change exemplified by yesterday's action to cross the threshold for the Paris Agreement to enter into force.

The decision to adopt the Global MBM represents a historic step on the part of the 191 Member States of ICAO and has the support of international and U.S. industry. This measure addresses a growing source of global emissions; demonstrates the international community's strong and growing support for climate action in all areas; and helps avoid a patchwork of potentially costly and overlapping regional and national measures.

Aviation is only one of many areas where we are taking concrete and meaningful action to address global climate change this year. Next week, the international community will come together in Kigali with the goal of adopting an ambitious amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons and potentially avoid a half degree Celsius of warming by the end of the century.

All of these efforts are critical to protecting and preserving our planet for future generations.

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