International Aviation

The document examines the environmental and social challenges of international aviation, highlighting that the sector may be responsible for up to 14% of man-made climate change. It criticizes the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for a lack of binding measures and analyzes the European Union's attempts to unilaterally regulate aviation emissions via the EU-ETS. The brief argues that offsetting is not a long-term solution and warns against the use of low-quality credits from mechanisms like Joint Implementation (JI) or oversupplied cap-and-trade systems. It recommends that any global aviation scheme must prioritize in-sector reductions and generate finance for climate action in developing countries.

• Aviation's contribution to climate change exceeds its direct CO2 emissions; while CO2 accounts for approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, factors like contrails and cirrus clouds mean aviation may be responsible for up to 14% of man-made climate change.
• Aviation emissions are increasing rapidly, growing at about 4% annually. Without control policies, these emissions could increase by 300-400% by 2050.
• The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has failed to establish binding climate targets over 16 years, relying instead on 'aspirational goals' and voluntary actions that are insufficient to prevent a business-as-usual 400% increase in emissions by 2050.
• The European Union attempted to include all flights arriving in or departing from the EU in its cap-and-trade scheme (EU-ETS) starting in 2012, which would have required a 5% emission reduction between 2013-2020 compared to 2004-2006 levels. This was temporarily paused via the 'stop the clock' derogation to allow ICAO to develop a global measure.
• Offsetting is criticized as a short-term solution that does not reduce emissions within the aviation sector and risks increasing global emissions if 'non-additional' projects are used. The document recommends excluding offset credits from Joint Implementation (JI), voluntary markets, and bilateral mechanisms due to lack of oversight and quality control.
• The document argues that aviation emissions should be used to generate climate finance for developing countries, suggesting that flights to and from Least Developed Countries (LDC) and Small Island Development States (SIDS) should be exempt to avoid economic burdens.

APA

Carbon Market Watch (2013). International Aviation. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/BftW+CMW-Policy-Brief-on-international-aviation-Facts_36.pdf

Chicago

Carbon Market Watch. International Aviation. 2013. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/BftW+CMW-Policy-Brief-on-international-aviation-Facts_36.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Carbon Market Watch |title=International Aviation |date=June 2013 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/BftW+CMW-Policy-Brief-on-international-aviation-Facts_36.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{carbonmarketwatch2013international, author = {{Carbon Market Watch}}, title = {{International Aviation}}, institution = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2013}, month = jun, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/BftW+CMW-Policy-Brief-on-international-aviation-Facts_36.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }