Carbon offsetting resolution takes centre stage at ICAO Assembly |19 October 2019

Part of the Seychelles delegation with their Ethiopian counterparts

Aviation leaders have resolved to move forward on the implementation of the emissions offsetting solution for international flights.

They did so at the 40th International Civil Aviation Organisation’s general assembly, which took place recently in Montreal.

States agreed to move forward with the implementation of CORSIA, which is the world’s first global Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.

The Seychelles delegation representing the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) and the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, was among the majority of the 175-member states who gave their support towards this resolution.

“The SCAA is committed towards its mandate and enforces on the need to strengthen the efforts to preserve the environment and heritage, which is one of our values. We have already established a structure, as part of the monitoring in relation to carbon emission, under CORSIA by working with the national carrier of Seychelles to guide and ensure compliance, capture data and focus towards the scheme,” said Garry Albert, the SCAA’s chief executive.

“Furthermore, SCAA will buddy partner with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, for capacity building and training to ensure compliance with ICAO’s policies and recommended practices,” he said.  

The integration of drones (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) into our airspace was another topic soliciting many interests. There was an urgent call for the establishment of a high-level body which will work with all parties concerned to develop provisions for these new travelling devices in the airspace.

Member states also welcomed and endorsed the ICAO Cybersecurity strategy for the air transport sector. This first-of-its-kind response features key goals relating to information sharing, improved coordination among partnering government and enforcement entities, including timely and aligned responses to related risks and events. 

Decisions were made on other key issues such as: endorsement of ICAO’s continuing work on passport and border control modernisation and identity-related infrastructure under its Traveller Identification Programme strategy. New measures were adopted to deal with unruly passengers, harmful interference with Global Navigation Satellite Systems and the implementation of necessary infrastructure to meet existing and future demand.

During the 40th Assembly, the ICAO Council President, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, presented 28 States from all ICAO regions with Council President Certificates in recognition of a States’ significant progress in resolving safety oversight and security deficiencies, and in improving the effective implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as identified through related ICAO audit programmes.

“Members of our organisation were honored to take part in the Assembly, and our presence and participation confirmed our total involvement in the global aviation community. The Assembly allowed us to engage with and learn from aviation leaders, and to understand the direction the industry is heading. This will ensure that we are moving in tandem with the rest of the world,” said CEO Albert who was participating at the ICAO triennium event for the first time since he joined the SCAA earlier this year.

Moving forward, the SCAA hopes to reap significant benefits in collaboration with assistance from key partners and also under the ICAO ‘No Country Left Behind initiative’ through various technical assistance and capacity building programmes. Through this support, the Authority is confident, that the country will make significant progress in strengthening key safety oversight and security aspects, and in improving the effective implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as identified through related ICAO audit programmes.

In the margins of the Assembly, the Seychelles delegation also met aviation partners from various countries, for courtesy calls or bilateral meetings.