§ Mr. ChallenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress was made at the most recent International Civil Aviation Organisation meeting on sustainable aviation. [165168]
§ Mr. McNultyThe 6th triennial meeting of the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) was held in Montreal, 2–12 February 2004. Progress was made on a number of issues. The principal achievements were (i) agreement on a new international standard for the minimum NOX performance of new aircraft engine types in the landing and takeoff cycle that is 12 per cent. more stringent than the current standard, coming into effect in 2008, (ii) agreement on the text of a guidance document on the application of the ICAO 'balanced approach' to noise management at airports, (iii) agreement to continue work on two possible avenues for the future participation of aviation in emissions trading at a global level, and (iv) agreement on a stretching programme of work for the period 2004–07, with a particular emphasis on long term goal-setting and the proper examination of trade-offs between different environmental impacts. Progress was also made on various lower-profile technical issues, but there was no progress on the use of charges to address the global environmental impacts of aviation, on which CAEP remains deeply divided.
All CAEP decisions are subject to confirmation by the ICAO Council and the full ICAO Assembly, 27 September-7 October 2004.