Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
DIRECTOR of Air Transport, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) , Mr. Tefera Mekonen Tefera has decried that only four ECOWAS member states (Nigeria inclusive) have completed their Action Plan on CO2 Emissions Mitigation Measures.
This is just as he stated that 11 States are from the ICAO-WACAF region are yet to follow suit.
Speaking earlier today at the Workshop/Seminar on the Development of States’ Action Plans on CO2 Emissions Mitigation Measures and CORSIA by ECOWAS Member States Held in Lagos, Nigeria he stated that it was the reason AFCAC is collaborating with ICAO and ECOWAS to organize additional Seminars to build capacity and assist member States having challenges in developing their State Action Plans.
He said,”A cursory look at the list of States that are yet to complete their Action Plans shows that 11 States are from the ICAO-WACAF region and are all members of ECOWAS. Meaning that, only 4 ECOWAS member States have so far completed and submitted their States’ Action Plans to ICAO.”
“Consequently, AFCAC took a decision to collaborate with ICAO and ECOWAS to organize this additional Workshop/Seminar to build capacity and assist these member States having challenges in developing their State Action Plans as well as to facilitate the engagement of the “ICAO Buddy Program” among States.”
According to him, the ongoing seminar is also designed to upgrade the understanding of participants so that they can have a better grasp of the functioning, implications and benefits of their States participating in the pilot and first phases of the scheme.
During his opening remark, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Capt. Muhtar Usman explained how aviation plays an essential role in the economic growth and market access for the world economy.
According to him, the rapid growth of air travel in recent years however contributes to an increase in total pollution attributable to aviation.
“Thus, (ICAO), decided to provide leadership to undertake efforts to reduce aviation’s contribution to climate change. These efforts include the development of State Action Plans by member States, the development of basket of measures to address CO2 emissions from international aviation through aircraft technology; operational improvements; sustainable alternative fuel for aviation and a global scheme known today as the Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).”
“I am pleased to inform you that Nigeria has not only developed and submitted its State Action Plan to ICAO but has also voluntarily notified ICAO that it will join CORSIA implementation from the outset during the pilot phase from 2021 with a view to being on the same page with the rest of the world on emissions mitigation measures.”
“Thus, this Workshop/Seminar has been designed to provide National Action Plan Focal Points and aviation industry stakeholders with practical input on the calculation of the CO2 emissions baseline and other quantification aspects as well as share information on CORSIA’s design elements and implementation aspects, including the work being undertaken on the development of Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and guidance material for CORSIA implementation.”
“It will also provide opportunity for States that are present here to share their experiences in the development of action plans and existing readiness to implement CORSIA as well as conduct an assessment of assistance needs.”
