The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
COP 31: ICAO champions global approach to aviation emissions
COP 31: ICAO champions global approach to aviation emissions Climate challenges require strengthened collaboration to accelerate sustainable aviation effortsThe acceleration of efforts to reduce carbon emissions from civil aviation will be the focus of ICAO’s engagement with diplomats and delegates at COP 31 (the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)), in Antalya, Türkiye. Emissions from international civil aviation are addressed through ICAO, while domestic flight operations are covered by the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement.ICAO’s strategic plan for 2050 envisions air transport for all with zero fatalities and net zero ca…
ICAO is focusing its COP 31 advocacy on accelerating sustainable aviation through a globally coordinated approach to reducing carbon emissions from international civil aviation. The organization emphasizes collaboration with diplomats and delegates to advance cleaner aviation energies, technological innovation, and operational improvements as part of its 2050 strategic plan.
The COP 31 agenda includes a emphasis on the sector’s only global market-based measure, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), as a pillar for achieving carbon neutral growth in international aviation. ICAO frames CORSIA alongside broader efforts to deploy cleaner energy and foster innovation across the industry.
ICAO notes that international aviation emissions are managed through its framework, while domestic aviation falls under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. This delineation underpins ICAO’s advocacy at COP 31 as it seeks to reinforce a unified, global approach to mitigating aviation emissions.
A key feature of ICAO’s presence at COP 31 is a dedicated side event titled “Accelerating Sustainable Aviation Through UN System Synergies,” intended to highlight collaboration across UN bodies. This event aims to demonstrate how coordinated efforts can accelerate progress toward sustainable aviation goals.
ICAO’s messaging at COP 31 builds on a unanimous endorsement by the ICAO Assembly in October 2025, which supported the agency’s 2050 vision of air transport with zero fatalities and net zero carbon emissions. The organization plans to showcase measurable progress achieved through its initiatives as COP 31 unfolds in Antalya, Türkiye, beginning on 9 November.