India Refuses to Cut Aviation Emissions

Expressing disappointment over India not being part of the global pact to reduce emission in the aviation sector, global airlines grouping IATA has said it will be a "major concern" for Indian operators, but hoped that the country would join the framework in the coming years. The Carbon Offsetting and Reporting Scheme for International Aviation was agreed upon earlier this year under the aegis of ICAO, Catcnews.com reported. "The point on which we are disappointed ... is that India didn't draw into CORSIA agreement," IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said, even though he hoped that India would join the scheme. Juniac told PTI that CORSIA would not be a major disruption in terms of competition for airlines operating to and from India since it is not a route-based system. "But it is a major concern for Indian operators not to be able to contribute to the carbon neutral growth or reduction in carbon dioxide emission in the next 30 years," he said. CORSIA, which seeks to reduce emission in the aviation sector through carbon offsetting, is to be implemented in five phases. The scheme is to run from 2021 to 2035.