Resolutions adopted by the 54th AFRAA Annual General Assembly on Aviation Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2050

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE 54^th AFRAA ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 11 – 13 DECEMBER 2022

EXCERPT ON ENVIRONMENT

AVIATION NET ZERO CARBON EMISSION BY 2050            RES AGA 54/10    

Recognizing the need for a sustainable aviation industry and the edge to develop a Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal (LTAG) to address the global challenge of climate change;

Noting that aviation plays a vital role in facilitating the movement of people to sustainably explore, learn, trade, appreciate cultures, and connect with other people around the world;

Conscious that African airlines’ current operations and emission levels are the lowest of all the world regions and that only about 10% of its population travel by air;

Aware that the potential for African airlines to grow in a SAATM and AfCFTA environment is enormous, and this should not be constraint by emission caps but instead supported by the global aviation community to realise the air connectivity required for Africa’s economic development;

Admitting that attaining net zero emissions by 2050 is an existential necessity and that the African aviation industry is progressively contributing its part to global emission goals but rightly demands the latitude to continue to accommodate the growing demand for air travel;

Knowing that a key enabler to net zero emission is the ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and that this will stabilise international emissions at 85% of 2019 levels in the short-to-medium term, however, this may constraint African aviation’s ability to realise its full potential considering the lower level of current operations;

Appreciating the bold decisions made by the 77^th IATA AGM and the 41^st ICAO Assembly towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050;

The 54th AFRAA AGA Resolve to:

1. Call on the governments of African Union Member States to commit to long-term net zero emission goals aligned to the Decision of the 41^st ICAO Assembly and the Paris Agreement goal for global warming not to exceed 1.5 degrees Celcius without compromising the aviation growth potential in Africa:
2. Encourage all AFRAA member airlines to continue improving their operations’ efficiency to achieve sustained in-sector emissions reductions and to support the transition to reliable, cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
3. Direct AFRAA to mobilise resources to assist airlines through capacity building and knowledge sharing on Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), and Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal (LTAG) for net zero carbon emission by 2050.
4. Urge all industry stakeholders to commit to addressing the environmental impact of their policies, products, and activities with concrete actions and clear timelines, specifically including:

• Fuel-producing companies providing large scale, cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuels to the market;
• Governments and air navigation service providers eliminating inefficiencies in air traffic management and airspace infrastructure;
• Aircraft and engine manufacturers producing more efficient airframe and propulsion technologies; and
• Airport operators providing the needed infrastructure to supply SAF in a cost-effective manner, not exceeding existing infrastructure costs.

The Excerpt can be downloaded from this link: https://www.afraa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AFRAA-AGA54-Resolutions-Excerpt-on-Environmnt-RES-AGA-54-10.pdf 

About    AFRAA

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development. AFRAA membership of 50 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.