90 دولة تبحث في دبي مستجدات إنتاج الوقود البديل لقطاع الطيران

Dubai witnessed the launch of the third conference of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on aviation and alternative fuels, under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and with a wide international presence of more than 1,000 participants from around the world, including more than 40 ministers, along with government delegations from more than 90 countries, more than 30 relevant international and regional organizations, and CEOs of major airlines, fuel production companies and aircraft manufacturers.

The conference, hosted by the state, extends from 20 to 24 November, and the conference agenda includes a high-level ministerial session followed by several sessions for government delegations from representatives of member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in the presence of representatives from airlines, fuel production companies and a number of Of the relevant organizations that will participate as observers, to discuss 5 main items over the course of 17 sessions, focused on developments in clean energy production and the necessary policies to support the transition towards the production of low-carbon fuels, sustainable fuels, and other types of clean fuels (such as hydrogen), as well as ways to support countries. To build its capabilities to produce clean energy for aviation, the necessary financing mechanisms, and review ICAO’s ambitious long-term goal to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The first edition of this conference was launched in 2009 in Brazil, followed by the second edition in Mexico in 2017, and the world is looking forward to the third, special and sensitive edition, as it comes directly after the resolution of the 41st General Assembly of 2022 of the Organization (ICAO) related to the goal of climate neutrality 2050, and aims to create consensus. International Conference on the necessity of investing in the development and production of alternative low-carbon fuels for aircraft, and it is expected that the third edition of the conference will come out with the announcement of a clear global framework on ways to shift towards alternative fuels and low-carbon fuels in the aviation sector.

• Suhail Al Mazroui

Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said: “The aviation industry plays a crucial role in supporting international efforts to reduce carbon emissions, and the UAE is making intense efforts to develop the national regulatory environment for the production of sustainable aviation fuel in line with our national ambitions to promote the transition towards energy.” clean, and to serve our efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.”
He added that the UAE is following a balanced approach to exploring future opportunities for sustainable aviation fuel, and improving the carbon intensity of hydrocarbon-based aviation fuel represents one of the axes of the rapid transformation in the energy sector towards clean energy. His Excellency continued: “The Third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels represents an ideal platform to stimulate international efforts to shift towards the use of clean energy in the aviation sector, in a way that serves the ambitious goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions in the aviation sector by 2050.”

• Abdullah bin Touq

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy – Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates, said that the unprecedented development challenges the world faces today as a result of the repercussions of climate change have left us with no other choice in the face of the necessity of shifting towards a low-carbon economic model. Pointing out that, in light of the persistent international efforts to find a realistic approach to this transformation, capable of keeping pace with development and economic needs, the civil aviation file remains one of the main files that pose a major challenge to policy makers and investors because it represents a fundamental pillar of comprehensive and sustainable economic growth globally.
Bin Touq stressed, during his opening speech, that the climate change issue is today on the list of priorities of the wise leadership of the United Arab Emirates, and the country is making serious efforts to accelerate the transition towards a new low-carbon economic model, and the aviation sector is one of the most important axes of this model. He explained that the UAE was one of the first countries to adopt the issue of sustainability and taking into account the environmental impact of the aviation sector. It participated in all negotiations led by the International Civil Aviation Organization and ratified all international resolutions that serve this trend. It was one of the first countries to announce its commitment in 2016. Implementing the CORSIA plan for carbon offsetting in international air transport. The UAE also launched a national roadmap for sustainable aviation fuel, through which it set an ambitious goal to achieve an annual production of up to 700 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030, which will contribute to reducing up to 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, as the sector announced. Its commitment to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Bin Touq continued: “This government commitment was accompanied by parallel efforts by the country’s private sector, as our national companies invest heavily in research and development activities, enhancing infrastructure, and developing international partnerships to support sustainable fuel production and uses.” He added: “We have great confidence that International cooperation under the umbrella of the International Civil Aviation Organization would achieve great progress in this file and find innovative solutions to its challenges.”

Bin Touq pointed out that this huge international gathering of senior officials and representatives of the global aviation community within the work of the Third ICAO Aviation and Alternative Fuels Conference will constitute a turning point in the future of the aviation and travel industry, and will move us to a new stage in the production of aviation fuel, which is more sustainable and low in emissions. It contributes significantly to achieving climate neutrality, and achieving what we committed to in General Assembly Resolution 41 of 2022 to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050.

• Salvatore Sciacchitano

For his part, Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the International Civil Aviation Organization Council, said: “The Third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) represents a crucial opportunity for countries to demonstrate a strong and pioneering position in addressing solutions to international aviation emissions, which is held days before the United Nations conference. Climate Change (COP28) also here in the UAE.

ICAO Council President Salvatore Chiacquitano stressed that “developing a strong and ambitious global framework will serve our joint efforts and commitment to decarbonizing this sector.”

• António Guterres

In a recorded speech for the conference, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said: “Let me begin by saluting the resolution issued last year by the General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding the adoption of the ambitious global goal to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050. Achieving this ambitious goal “It will be a huge task for the aviation sector, which contributes 2% of total carbon emissions. It is one of the sectors that poses a huge challenge to reducing carbon, but with everything that can be achieved through innovation and investment.”

Guterres continued: “A zero-emission aviation sector requires a global transformation of the sector towards clean energy, which requires new economic policies and laws that support this transformation and are capable of creating economic opportunities and attracting investments. Therefore, we look forward to the global framework that will emerge from this conference to support the transition towards alternative fuels for aviation, which will constitute a decisive step towards a more prosperous and sustainable future for this vital sector.” The Secretary-General of the United Nations added: “The holding of this conference just days away from the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) makes the present time the most appropriate to transform this global ambition into realistic and implementable plans and find a path leading to zero.” carbon emissions by 2050 and building a better and more sustainable future for all of us.”

Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, also participated in the conference activities through a recorded speech during which he stressed that the civil aviation sector has made tangible progress in the field of environmental protection, especially after the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. He added that the historic decision of ICAO in 2016 regarding the plan CORSIA, a plan to offset and reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector, is considered the only global measure based on market mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions, which has witnessed a broad international response, as this plan entered into force with the participation of 126 volunteer countries from around the world. In addition, the decision of the ICAO Assembly last year to commit to the ambitious Long-Term Global Goal (LTAG) to reach zero carbon emissions in the aviation sector by 2050, reflects the shared ambition of ICAO Member States to achieve real progress in this area, and marks the beginning of the next chapter. New to the path of sustainability in the aviation sector. He pointed out that the time has come to turn this ambition into reality.

The former Secretary of the United Nations continued that there is tangible progress in developing solutions to produce low-carbon and sustainable fuel, and called for strengthening cooperation between governments, airlines, fuel companies, manufacturers and financing institutions to enable this progress to continue towards achieving ambitious goals, stressing that the challenge is great, but joint cooperation It makes us able to overcome it. Ban Ki-moon concluded his speech by thanking all the participants in the Third Aviation and Alternative Fuels Conference, and expressed his optimism about the outcomes of this edition of the conference in providing an advanced and ambitious global framework that serves the efforts to transition towards sustainable aviation.

During a keynote speech delivered by Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, Director-General and Special Representative of the UAE Presidency for the Conference of the Parties (COP28), he stressed: “The current indicators confirm that the world is not on the right track to achieve the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, but we still have time to change course, if We viewed this challenge as a shared opportunity for cooperation, and this is what the COP28 Presidency is working to achieve, by forming partnerships and achieving consensus for collective climate action.”

He explained that the COP28 presidency has developed an action plan consisting of four basic axes, including: accelerating the achievement of an orderly, just and responsible transition in the energy sector, developing climate financing mechanisms, focusing on preserving people and life and improving livelihoods, and supporting all of these previous pillars by including everyone in a way Complete.

Al Suwaidi stressed that “the energy transition has now become a vital requirement for all economic sectors and industries, and the current transformation of the aviation sector towards low-carbon and sustainable fuel represents a development necessity to support climate action goals.” “No country, company or individual can meet a challenge of this magnitude alone, and no one should be left behind,” he added.

He pointed out that “coordination, cooperation and partnerships among countries are the basis, pointing to the existing partnership between the UAE and the United States to accelerate clean energy, which provides an example of the type of partnerships required, and transportation represents one of the main axes in this partnership by encouraging investment and joint cooperation to expand fuel production.” Cleanliness in the transportation sectors.
The Director General of COP28 called on member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization and leaders of the aviation and energy sectors to be present at COP28 and support international efforts to reduce carbon emissions. He explained that the two-week COP28 program will include a special day for the transportation sector, bringing together representatives from various sectors to explore how the aviation industry can achieve zero emissions by 2050.

The opening ceremony, which was held at the “La Perle” Theater – Al Habtoor City – Dubai, witnessed the audience being transported on a journey to the future, through the presentation of a short video about the future traveler’s journey. The ceremony concluded with an international performance from the “La Perle” band, which performed intense, eye-catching creative scenes throughout. 12 minutes.
The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and a number of senior officials and important figures in the aviation, energy and investment sectors.

It is worth noting that this edition of the conference is organized under the auspices of a number of sponsors supporting this event, as Airbus, Flydubai, ENOC, and Platinum Technical Works come under the category of platinum partners. Etihad Airways, ADNOC, Unified Airlines, Air Arabia, Skydive and Aerosparks are also golden partners. Abu Dhabi Airports, Boeing, SafeOne, AO Drones, Tadawi Healthcare and IATA are silver partners, in addition to the Emirates News Agency and Sky News Arabia as media partners.