ICAO tackling climate change with new policies

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 9, 2018

The International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) is implementing new policies and practices that would aid in the global fight against Climate Change.

Director General of the GCAA, (Retd) Lt. Col. Egbert Field (Centre)

This is according to Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) (Retd) Lt. Col. Egbert Field who noted too that aviation contributes two percent emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The new policies of the ICAO are geared at reducing this number to zero.

“They are looking at ways of cutting down on emission by having new engines invented. Engines that will use less fuel, lighter aircraft that will use less fuel, allowing less pollution and a number of items in the environment,” the Director-General said last week.

Field said the Aviation Authority is taking a serious approach to the effects of Climate Change and the ICAO’s programme now focuses heavily on the environment, the Carbon Basin Initiative and the emission of Co2.

“We are looking to have that percentage decrease to zero percent. Together with safety and security, we are also looking at the environment,” he said, adding that the GCAA is moving ahead in its bid to become fully compliant with ICAO.

“We are moving, we are training our staff; spending a lot in that area to ensure that there is a robust authority to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” he said, continuing that “the challenges are coming very fast.”

Field said ICAO is very pleased with the movement of the industry and authority in Guyana as this was expressed when the organisation was presented with a President’s certificate last year.

 “You cannot understand or imagine what we will face in another year. With the extended runaway and the expanded airport, we are looking to have travellers from as far as Africa and Europe coming into Guyana…There is a tsunami ahead of us and we have got to work hard to build this authority for robust oversight of the industry. Our main goal is to ensure that the skies are safe as safety is paramount in the work of the authority,” he said.

“We will continue to ensure that this remains the focal point of each member.”

Guyana is preparing to host the ICAO conference in November this year where over 600 persons from across 192 countries are expected to participate.

Alexis Rodney

Images: Jules Gibson

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