International Cooperation

Global environmental challenges require global cooperation to achieve agreed future goals.

International Cooperation is a key element to reach the global aspirational goal for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, including the aim to achieve a 5% reduction of CO₂ emissions from the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Low Carbon Aviation Fuels and other aviation cleaner energies by 2030.

Since 2022, European entities (e.g. States, Institutions and Stakeholders) have committed more than €20M to support environmental protection initiatives in civil aviation across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Collaboration with Partner States has contributed to the sound implementation of CORSIA-Monitoring Reporting and Verification in more than 100 States and facilitated new States joining its voluntary pilot and first phases.

Technical support contributed to the development of a first or updated State Action Plan for CO₂ emissions reduction within 18 States, and to an enhanced understanding of SAF and the associated opportunities worldwide.

Future efforts with Partner States in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to focus on the implementation of CORSIA offsetting and building capacity to increase SAF production.

SAF, which has the biggest potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of air transport in the short- and long-term, are also an opportunity for States to develop their green economy and to boost job creation. Hence, initiatives like the EU Global Gateway are providing financial support (initially on feasibility studies) to help realise viable SAF production projects in Partner States.

Awareness, coordination, and collaboration in International Cooperation initiatives among supporting partners are essential factors to maximise the value of the resources provided to Partner States.

The Aviation Environmental Protection Coordination Group (AEPCG) provides a forum to facilitate this coordination of European action with Partner States.

This chapter reflects on the role of International Cooperation in supporting and increasing environmental protection commitments in the aviation sector worldwide. It also provides insights on International Cooperation initiatives by European entities (e.g. States, Institutions and Stakeholders) and the achievements from this cooperation with Partner States.

The information presented in this chapter has been provided by European focal points working on international cooperation projects as well as public sources on contributions to ICAO initiatives

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. This information, although not exhaustive, is representative of the European efforts to support an ambitious level of environmental protection and to foster a harmonised implementation of the relevant international environmental standards worldwide.

International Cooperation initiatives facilitate engagement with Partner States in addressing those challenges by sharing knowledge and in-field experience of mutual benefit as well as the provision of resources. This collaborative effort is also a way to strengthen institutional ties and to enhance working relations with Partner States, thereby making it an additional key element in the basket of measures to achieve environmental goals such as net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050 and to ensure that “No Country is Left Behind”.

International Cooperation

Explore the sections in the International Cooperation chapter

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