WTTC, IATA, and Governments Call For United Front to Decarbonize Aviation

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:15 PM ET, Thu November 20, 2025

As the world grapples with the intensifying effects of climate change, a coalition of industry and political leaders is calling upon governments around the world to accelerate the coordinated action necessary to reach net zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050.

In a statement issued today, the coalition warned that fragmented efforts to reach net zero including relying on taxes and levies that impact travelers, risk undermining climate progress, while also weakening connectivity and diverting resources away from genuine emissions-reduction investments.

Those issuing the call for strengthened international cooperation to address carbon emissions include The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the governments of Japan and Malaysia and a coalition of leading industry stakeholders.

“Travel and tourism relies on a strong and competitive aviation system. WTTC does not support new climate taxes that push costs onto travelers and add unnecessary pressure on the sector,” Gloria Guevara, WTTC interim president & CEO, said in a statement.

“What we need are practical, scalable solutions that accelerate decarbonization and expand access to climate finance,” Guevara added, pointing out that aviation is the backbone of global travel and that the global community should be focusing on measures that strengthen aviation’s ability to connect people and support economies.

Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, echoed Guevara’s sentiments, pointing out that “fragmented taxes and levies will not cut emissions."

"They risk diverting funds from actual emission reduction investments, which is a critical climate consideration, and will only weaken connectivity and harm those who depend on it most," Walsh added.

The primary function of climate taxes and levies being issued by governments around the world is revenue generation, according to the signatories. Rather then help address the carbon emissions issue, these taxes "risk curbing connectivity, constraining economic opportunities and disproportionately affecting developing economies and small island states that rely on air transport as an essential economic lifeline,” said the joint statement.

ICAO’s central role

When it comes to the global effort to decarbonize the aviation industry, the joint statement signatories also stressed that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency that helps 193 countries to cooperate together and share their skies to their mutual benefit, must continue to be the exclusive forum for regulating international aviation emissions.

ICAO’s mandate under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol provides the legal and technical power for coordinated global action, according to the joint statment.

The signatories are also calling on all states to uphold ICAO’s leadership and avoid duplicating mechanisms across international processes.

Strengthening CORSIA

The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (also known as CORSIA), must also remain a cornerstone of the aviation industry’s decarbonization pathway, according to the joint statement. CORSIA a global offsetting scheme through which airlines and other aircraft operators are required to offset any growth in CO2 emissions above 85 percent of 2019 levels.

The goal of CORSIA is to stabilize aviation's CO2 emissions while other emissions reduction measures, such as technology, sustainable aviation fuel, operations, and infrastructure options are pursued.

In CORSIA’s First Phase (which runs from 2024 to 2026), airlines are expected to purchase upwards of 200 million credits, generating $4 to 5 billion. The funds are meant to support high-quality, independently verified emissions-reduction projects, with particular benefit for developing economies.

CORSIA is projected to cover at least 85 percent of international aviation emissions by 2027 and to generate over $120 billion in climate finance between 2024 and 2035.

The joint statement signatories include the following governments and industry organizations:

The governments of Japan and Malaysia
Airlines for Europe (A4E)
Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO)
Airports Council International (ACI)
Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA)
Airlines International Representation in Europe (AIRE)
Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA)
Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA)
Air Transport Action Group (ATAG)
European Regions Airline Association (ERA)
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
International Business Aviation Council (IBAC)
International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA)
National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC)
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)