In June 1999, a Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change described emissions of GHGs and other gases from the aviation sector and reviewed scenarios for growth in air transport and emissions. While the report spurred an intense dialogue among scientists, industry, governments, and environmentalists about the nature and extent of measures needed to limit emissions from international civil aviation, no plan has been established yet to limit these emissions.
Action is needed.
Rapid growth in air travel is likely to increase significantly the GHG burden civil aviation places on the atmosphere. The Article urges that the system be devised and adopted by 2001. In the event nations do not reach an agreement, they may impose a potentially disparate system of emissions charges and aviation fuel taxes.