Aviation and the Global Atmosphere

Aviation and the Global Atmosphere
Aviation and the Global Atmosphere
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10.1. Introduction
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Although the introduction of aircraft emissions reduction technology (see Chapter 7), ATM improvements, and other aircraft operational measures (see Chapter 8)
highlight the technological potential to reduce future aircraft emissions, the question has been raised about whether these technologies will be adopted by industry and
implemented by governments at sufficient levels and soon enough to appropriately address projected scenarios of growth in aviation traffic and emissions (Chapter 9).
This chapter reviews policy measures that are viewed as ways of accelerating emission mitigation trends, if needed (IPCC, 1996b). Such measures for policymakers
include initiatives to ensure timely implementation of CNS/ATM, development of regulatory standards and recommended practices, market-based measures such as
environmental levies (taxes and charges), and emissions trading. This chapter also examines analytical frameworks to evaluate alternative policy options.
When evaluating potential mitigation measures for aviation, policymakers probably would benefit from having reliable information on the relative costs of mitigating
aviation's greenhouse gas or other emissions compared with the costs of mitigating emissions from other sources. At present, however, it is not known whether
addressing aviation is likely to be more or less costly than achieving comparable reductions from other sources.
In terms of guidance, the 1995 IPCC assessment states, "Achieving the economic and policy potential of greenhouse gas reductions ... depends on the economic and
other priorities of the providers and users of transport services. The extent to which these potentials are achieved depends on a complex interaction among
technology, the economy, and choices made by consumers, producers, and policymakers. It is this interaction that most needs to be understood and addressed if
policymakers wish to limit greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector." (IPCC, 1996a).
Because most developed and developing country economies depend on aviation services, balancing the individual interests of aviation stakeholders with the broader
public interest, including environmental interests, is critical. It is also important to understand the institutional and global context in which the industry operates, the
drivers of aviation economic activity, and the incentives and motivations of the parties.
In addition, the literature on this subject suggests that flexible, cost-effective policies that rely on economic incentives, as well as the coordinated use of policy
instruments, can considerably reduce mitigation or adaptation costs and increase the cost-effectiveness of emission reduction measures. Appropriate long-run signals
are required to allow producers and consumers to adapt cost effectively to constraints on greenhouse gas emissions and to encourage investment, research,
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