Emissions offsetting measures and innovation priorities set the stage for ICAO’s 40th Triennial Assembly |12 October 2019
The Seychelles delegation
A high-level Seychelles delegation led by the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Didier Dogley, attended the 40th Triennial Assembly of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) from September 24 to October 4, 2019 in Montreal.
The 2019 ICAO Assembly brought together 175 member states in a bid to focus on pertinent issues impacting the global development of civil aviation, highlighting the challenges and defining priorities and planned ICAO activities and programmes for the next triennium.
The event this year also coincided with a major milestone which is being celebrated globally by the industry to mark the 75th anniversary since the inception of the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944 done in Chicago.
Emissions offsetting measures and innovation priorities set the stage for this year’s Assembly. Countries were called upon to support the full implementation of the Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which was launched at the last Assembly in 2016. This scheme represents the civil aviation industry’s bold efforts to reduce the impact of civil aviation activities on the environment and address climate change issues.
In a bid to support the fast moving dynamics of technological aviation solutions including drones, new aircraft technology, customer experience and airport operations solutions, the Assembly set the stage for the further promulgation of technological advancement as a guiding priority for civil aviation going forward. Progress made in Safety and Security under the ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative were also highlighted with special recognition to the major achievements in the African region.
“As the minister responsible for civil aviation, my participation in the 40th General Assembly of the ICAO is meaningful as we join world civil aviation leaders to celebrate the 75th anniversary of ICAO’s founding charter. Since our inception to the Convention in 1977, we have been engaged in this incredible journey which has propelled the aviation industry to greater heights,” remarked Minister Dogley.
In the margins of the Assembly, Minister Dogley and his delegation took the opportunity to meet several world leaders including his counterpart ministers from Angola, Maldives, Cape Verde, Malaysia, UAE and Qatar. The Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) delegation also met several organisations and agencies including the UK Civil Aviation Authority, ICAO Technical Cooperation Bureau, and the Airports Authority of India.
“These interventions marks our government’s efforts to deepen cooperation avenues with ICAO, its affiliated bodies, and member countries to advance the state’s civil aviation capabilities,” the minister added.