A new deal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by airlines has received support from China, the United States and Europe, which will be finalized this month at the meeting of the U.N.'s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and will take effect starting 2021.
According to Reuters, aviation was not covered in the climate accord signed in Paris last December when countries agreed to lower the global average temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.
The proposed pact aims to cap the carbon emission of all international flights by 2020, making it voluntary between 2021 and 2026 and mandatory from 2027 for the largest emitters.
Under the proposed deal, airlines from participating countries would have to cut their emissions or buy carbon credits from assigned environmental projects around the world to offset their emissions.
Based on ICAO estimates, about 0.2-0.6 percent of total revenue from international aviation will be spent by operators for carbon offsetting beginning in 2025, and about 0.5-1.4 percent from 2035.
"Today, the United States and China are expressing their support for the ICAO Assembly reaching consensus on such a measure," according to a statement issued by China and the U.S. on Saturday, Sept. 3.
The joint statement, which was issued ahead of a G20 summit in Hangzhou, said that both countries were expected to be the early participants in the measure and have volunteered to join.
A separate statement released by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), comprised of the EU and 16 other countries, said it would join in the plan as it called on all other major airlines in other states to cooperate.
China, which has previously opposed other emissions measures for its industries, will participate as experts see that Chinese airlines will benefit from it in the initial stage.
"It is not an issue for China to sign up for the ICAO deal, as the mitigation actions are voluntary until 2026," Chai Qimin, a researcher with China's National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), said.
Chai added that although China's participation will depend on the terms agreed by other countries, it will also benefit from the deal by giving it a lower share of all emissions that must be restricted starting from 2020.
China held that efforts that require developed countries to take the lead in cutting emissions, is a violation of the principle on "common but differentiated responsibility," which include forcing its planes to buy carbon credits.
ICAO is set to meet on Sept. 27, where negotiations are expected to be made.
"There are a lot of details that will determine the level of ambition," according to Li Shuo, climate adviser with Greenpeace.
Li said that China has not shown much interest in aviation although the country has been active in the Montreal protocol and the phasing out of CFCs.
The agreement for the aviation sector must cover about 80 to 90 percent of emissions above 2020 levels to reach the long-term target of carbon neutral growth, Annie Petsonk, international counsel at the Washington D.C.-based Environmental Defense Fund, said.
International Council on Clean Transportation, a non-profit organization, China would likely be required to hit that 80 percent target during the initial voluntary phases from 2021 to 2026.
China's aviation industry said it would support whatever decision the government will make, according to Chai Haibo, vice-general secretary of the China Air Transport Industry Association. The Civil Aviation Administration of China did not comment on China's position.
"Multinational negotiations under a government framework are more favorable, and we hope it will result in an acceptable deal to all parties," Chai said.