18 November 2025 (Belem, Brazil) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA), together with the governments of Japan, Malaysia and leading industry stakeholders, have issued a joint statement at COP30, urging governments and the international community to reaffirm the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s leadership and accelerate coordinated climate action for aviation to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Specifically, the signatories highlight the need for global solutions, emphasizing that ICAO remains the exclusive forum for addressing international aviation emissions. The signatories caution against fragmented or unilateral measures, stressing that only a unified approach can deliver effective climate results for the sector. The signatories also stress the role of robust global carbon markets in scaling up climate finance opportunities, which is high on the COP agenda and central to the Baku to Belem Roadmap.
‘Aviation is a catalyst for global connectivity and economic development. To achieve net zero emissions by 2050, governments must reaffirm ICAO’s role as the single global authority, fully implement CORSIA, and operationalize Article 6 to unlock climate finance for developing nations. Fragmented taxes and levies will not cut emissions—they risk diverting funds from actual emission-reduction investments, which is a critical climate consideration, and will only weaken connectivity and harm those who depend on it most,’ said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.