Small Island States Talk Aviation Emission Cuts

Delegates from the Small Island De­veloping States (SIDS) met in Nadi yesterday to help collaborate actions to protect the environment and cut aviation emission.

They are learning to raise awareness on various funding mechanisms available to SIDS in implementing the aviation emis­sion measures.

The seminar is to equip the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with guidance re­quired to implement aviation environmen­tal protection measures focusing especially on the needs of SIDS.

Solicitor-General and Permanent Secre­tary for Civil Aviation, Sharvada Sharma, officiated at the International Civil Avia­tion Organisation (ICAO) ‘Capacity Build­ing Seminar on Low Emissions Aviation Measures’ at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi.

He said: “Environmental protection is critically important to SIDS who are at the forefront of the adverse impacts of climate change and who share common economic challenges of isolation, limited resources and natural disasters.

“SIDS, therefore, needs significant invest­ment and help from international communi­ties in climate change adaptation, resilience and mitigation measures, in particular, ca­pacity building and financing.

“Aviation is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing contributors of carbon emissions and we all need to play our part and strive collectively to achieve the ambitious targets that we agreed to in the ICAO 39th Assem­bly.

“Having said that, in implementing any environmental projects, funding often re­mains a top challenge for SIDS and we wel­come any partnerships in that matter.”

The seminar is organised by the ICAO, UNDP and GEF and attended by delegates from the Pacific Island States, Australia, Ko­rea, Singapore, Jamaica including regional and international organisations.

To address climate change, besides adap­tation, Fiji recognises the importance of mitigation even for SIDS and is, therefore, taking a proactive approach in reducing its emission levels despite contributing mini­mally to climate change.

“It is important that we all must commit ourselves to climate change mitigation measures and reduce our emission levels while adapting to climate change,” he add­ed.

Fiji was the first Pacific Island State to submit its State Action Plan for reducing its international aviation emissions in August 2015 and is currently in the process of re­viewing and updating its State Action Plan by August 2018.

“Our Nadi International Airport has also received Airport Carbon Accreditation Lev­el 1 certification from the Airports Council International. This accreditation recog­nises the efforts put in by Fiji Airports to reduce their carbon emissions and Fiji Air­ports is working towards achieving level 2 certification for Nadi Airport.

ICAO’s Deputy Director, Environment, Jane Hupe said: “The seminar will raise awareness on various funding mechanisms available to SIDS in implementing aviation emission measures.”

The seminar provides a great learning experience and guidance to SIDS to imple­ment the aviation environmental protection measures in their respective states.

“The seminar will also provide an excel­lent opportunity to share experiences and lessons learnt to work towards a collabora­tive approach for environmental protection and reducing international aviation emis­sion.”

[Source: Fiji Sun Online]

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