Airlines lobby for climate commitments to be scaled back in wake of travel downturn

Airlines are demanding the rewriting of a global agreement designed to cut aviation carbon emissions, in order to scale back their targets in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. The IATA, the global trade association for airlines, claimed a scheme to offset any rise in emissions would place an “inappropriate economic burden” on operators already struggling with the impact of the worldwide Covid-19 lockdown. IATA warned airlines could pull out of the UN-led carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation (Corsia) unless it was amended. Under the terms of the agreement, drawn up by the UN’s ICAO, aviation operators are required to pay to offset any annual growth in emissions above an agreed baseline as part of commitments to work towards carbon neutral flights. The baseline is set at the average emissions for the years 2019 and 2020. IATA is arguing the collapse in global air traffic caused by the coronavirus crisis will mean a “significant reduction” in that baseline — leading to increased offsetting requirements and costs for airlines in years to come. Climate campaigners have said any bailouts should come with environmental strings attached.<br/>