‘Nation committed to reducing carbon emissions’
LANGKAWI: Malaysia’s aviation industry is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai yesterday.
Liow said the move was in line with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) through the Global Market-Based Measures (GMBM).
“I believe that we must address environmental challenges and sustainability. Recognising the pressing need, I reiterate Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to the 2020 goal of reducing carbon emission by 40 per cent, a challenge that I consider we can meet.
“Malaysia, together with 66 other member states (of ICAO) has pledged its undivided support to participate in the voluntary pilot phase of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).”
CORSIA was adopted during ICAO’s 39th assembly last year, to cap international aviation emissions in 2020 and beyond.
Liow was speaking at the opening of the “Asean Aviation Summit: Global Sustainable Green Aviation” at Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre here, in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition 2017.
The summit, he said, was designed to provide an opportunity for the development and implementation of CORSIA and other means to achieve a green and sustainable global aviation industry.
It also serves as a platform for Asean member states, state operators and industries to collaborate on issues of common interest in the development of green initiatives.
Among the topics that will be discussed include “Global Carbon Offsetting Scheme for Aviation: Sharing of Views by States”, “Sustainable Green Airports” and “Airlines’ Perspective on CORSIA Implementation”.
“We must stand together in our noble course to minimise carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions as it is critical to the survival of our planet — not only to the sustainability of air transport but to civil society generally.”
Present at the summit were Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi, ICAO deputy director (environmental unit) Jane Hupe and Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman.
Later, Liow launched AirAsia’s latest route between Langkawi and Shenzhen in China.
AirAsia Bhd chief executive officer Aireen Omar said the airline’s third international route from Langkawi would bring in more tourists.