Air travel accounts for 5-14% of global climate emissions and is growing rapidly. Nevertheless, aviation emissions remain unregulated. Pressure is mounting on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to agree to a mechanism to reduce aviation emissions during their next triennial Assembly in September 2013. The aviation sector must reduce its emissions if we are to protect ourselves from severe climate disruption. ICAO has suggested several options, including several non-market based as well as a global market based measure to reduce emissions in the aviation sector. Any market based solution must go beyond pure offsetting. Only a cap-and-trade scheme with a stringent cap and a limit on the use of offsets, combined with an ambitious set of technological and operational measures, will deliver actual emission reductions in the sector.

Putting in place quality restrictions for such offsets is absolutely vital.

Download our Policy Brief to learn more and view a summary of main offset credit types and recommended quality provisions.