Nigeria has notified the International Civil Organisation ICAO that it will join C02 Emissions Mitigation Measures and Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) implementation from the outset during the pilot phase in 2021.
The director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman stated this in his opening remarks at a Workshop/Seminar on the Development of States’ Action Plans on CO2 Emissions Mitigation Measures and CORSIA for States Accredited to ICAO Western and Central African (WACAF) office and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Usman the country had developed and submitted its State Action Plan to ICAO stressing that Nigeria was joining CORSIA with a view to being on the same page with the rest of the world on emissions mitigation measures.
“As we all may be aware, aviation plays an essential role in the economic growth and market access for the world economy. The rapid growth of air travel in recent years however contributes to an increase in total pollution attributable to aviation. Thus, decided to provide leadership to undertake efforts to reduce aviation’s contribution to climate change,” he said.
The 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 CORSIA.
He explained that the workshop/seminar had 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.
He also said the event would provide opportunity for the participating state 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.
He assured that ICAO and “our industry stakeholders here in Nigeria that NCAA is committed to actively provide dynamic, purposeful and imaginative leadership in addressing the challenges posed by emissions from aviation and climate change in our region,” as well as “use this occasion to urge all participants to ensure that the opportunity provided by this workshop/seminar is fully optimized so as to achieve all the objectives that have been set forth.
In his remarks, the secretary general of AFCAC, Ms. Iyabo Sosina said AFCAC’s task is is to ensure that all AFCAC member states develop and submit to ICAO their States’ Action Plans on CO2 emissions reduction measures before June, 2018.
Sosina, who was represented by AFCAC’s director of air transport, Mr. Tefera Mekonen Tefera, said the secretariat was mandated to implement the task through liaison with ICAO and other stakeholders.
He said 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 four ECOWAS member States have so far completed and submitted their States’ Action Plans to ICAO.
“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 Programme’ among States.
“Due to the clear synergy between State Action Plans and CORSIA, this workshop/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.
“We have what it takes to make the most of the opportunity that is being presented to us here…” she said and solicited the participants’ cooperation to ensure that after the event ‘we all take necessary measures to complete and submit our respective States’ Action Plans to ICAO before June, 2018.”
“Alone, we can do very little but together, we can do so much more. I believe that over the coming years, we shall see an increasing partnerships and collaboration in other areas of aviation on the African continent that will positively transform our industry and ensure another century of growth and prosperity,” she said.
