Washington, DC—The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today welcomed the final approval by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of the first international carbon dioxide (CO2) emission standard for airplanes. This step means that ICAO’s 191 member states can now adopt and implement the new standard in their national regulations.

“ICAO’s final approval today of aviation’s first CO2 emission standard for airplanes is a milestone that enshrines aviation manufacturers’ commitment to mitigate our industry’s impact on climate change,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “We are proud of the important leadership role that general aviation manufacturers played in developing the new standard over the past six years through collaboration with global authorities and civil society stakeholders.”

The standard applies to new-design large airplanes starting in 2020, and to smaller new-design airplanes, including business jets, from 2023 onward. All covered in-production airplanes must meet the standard by 2028, marking the first time an international environmental standard in aviation will apply to that category. Small turbine-powered airplanes under 5,700 kg (12,500 lbs) maximum take-off mass (MTOM) are exempted, as are piston-engine airplanes and turboprops below 8,618 kg (19,000 lbs) MTOM.

The ICAO Council’s decision follows a February 2016 recommendation by ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) regarding the technical aspects of the new standard.

GAMA member companies contributed significant resources to the technical discussions that resulted in the development of the new standard. Along with alternative fuels, the CO2 standard forms part of the technology pillar of climate action by the global aviation industry. The other pillars are infrastructure improvements (air traffic control modernization), operational efficiencies, and market-based measures.