The ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) held the first Steering Group meeting (SG1) of the CAEP/13 cycle from 5-9 December in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This was the first in-person meeting of CAEP Members since the first Steering Group meeting of the CAEP/12 cycle. Consistent with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitments to addressing the climate challenge and tackling environmental issues, the United States submitted six working papers seeking provide guidance to CAEP’s working groups and highlight U.S. efforts to increase climate and environmental ambition.
The six papers cover a number of topics and are available below.
- This paper presents the views of the United States challenges facing ICAO related to monitoring progress towards the LTAG and identifies possible means for doing so within CAEP. It proposes using the existing monitoring, reporting, and verification processes captured in Annex 16, Volume IV (“CORSIA SARPs”) to help monitor international aviation fuel use and emissions, using information from the Forecasting and Economic Analysis Group to inform cost estimates, as well as other potential data sources for LTAG monitoring.
- This paper presents the views of the United States on the ongoing and planned work of the Working Group 4. It also provides views on the potential implications of the outcome of the 41st Assembly on the Working Group 4 work program. In particular, it recommends that WG4 be tasked to develop a methodology and timeline for the CORSIA Periodic Review, with the expectation that pending approval by Council, that the methodology would be applied towards the 2025 review.
WP/36 – Views of the United States on Sustainable Aviation Fuels Efforts Within ICAO (187 KB)
- This paper provides a high-level overview of recent developments within the United States to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) deployment. It also provides views of the United States on ICAO efforts related to SAF. This includes the ICAO Vision for SAF, the Fuels Task Group (FTG), as well as the coming CAAF/3 Conference.
WP/37 – Views of the United States on the Integrated CO2/Noise Stringency Work (153 KB)
- This paper presents views of the United States on the current state of the Integrated CO2 Emissions and Noise Stringency Analysis. Specifically, the United States provides views on key elements within the integrated stringency analysis schedule, applicability, modelling approaches, and data, while emphasizing the importance of proceeding according to schedule in order for CAEP to be successful in recommending new CO2/Noise standards at CAEP/13.
WP/38 – Views of the United States on ETA Noise Certification (213 KB)
- This paper presents status updates on the current approaches used in noise certification of Emerging Technology Aircraft (ETA) in the United States and associated data collection and research programs. The contents of this paper aim to support further discussions on ETA noise.
WP/39 – Views of the United States on Supersonics (163 KB)
- This paper provides the views of the United States on progress to-date at CAEP on tasks supporting the development of civil supersonic environmental standards and offers views on next steps during CAEP13 cycle regarding: 1) Supersonic exploratory study public release; 2) Supersonic LTO noise Standard; 3) En-route noise Standard; and 4) Supersonic LTO engine emissions.
CAEP is a technical committee of the ICAO Council established in 1983. CAEP assists the Council in formulating new policies and adopting new Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) related to aircraft noise and emissions, and more generally to aviation environmental impact.
CAEP undertakes specific studies, as requested by the Council. Its scope of activities encompasses noise, local air quality (LAQ) and the basket of measures for reducing international aviation CO2 emissions, including aircraft technology, operational improvement, sustainable aviation fuels, and market-based measures (CORSIA).
CAEP informs the Council’s and Assembly’s decision making with the ICAO Global Environmental Trends, which assess the present and future impact of aircraft noise and aircraft engine emissions. The Global Environmental Trends is crucial to the work of ICAO as it provides a robust single reference for sound discussion and decision-making.
The Council reviews and adopts CAEP recommendations, including amendments to the SARPs, and in turn reports to the ICAO Assembly where the main policies on environmental protection are ultimately defined.
