​TIACA has consistently championed ICAO as the body to pursue a global agreement on aviation carbon emissions. It campaigned strongly against the controversial inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and welcomed the European Commission’s decision to postpone the application of the ETS to aviation. TIACA asked the Commission to pursue a global agreement through ICAO, which was designated in The Kyoto Protocol as the body with authority to set international aviation’s greenhouse gas policy. Additionally, TIACA emphasizes that it is ready to join forces with ICAO and industry partners to undertake any efforts necessary to implement an Assembly decision to develop a single MBM. At IATA’s recent Annual General Meeting in Cape Town, its members overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution calling for the implementation of an aviation carbon neutral growth strategy by 2020 (“CNG2020”). Douglas Brittin, Secretary General of TIACA, said: “This action by IATA members, which aligns with TIACA’s longstanding objectives, is yet another sign of the strong commitment of the aviation industry to encourage and support a sustainable global standard for aviation emissions, which contribute only 2% of global man-made CO2 emissions. IATA has set out principles towards CNG2020 that we wholeheartedly support and TIACA, alongside IATA and other industry partners, is committed to working with ICAO on any necessary follow up from an Assembly decision. “We have repeatedly emphasised that the aviation and air cargo sectors have made significant progress over many years to implement ‘green’ solutions partly because of the responsibility we all have to protect the environment but also because such efficiencies are vital in terms of cost efficiency. We are already delivering results and will continue to do so - and we now call upon global governments, through ICAO, to play their part by reaching a single, simple and sustainable agreement to help aviation achieve carbon neutral growth. This would be an historic agreement. We do not under-estimate that there are many challenges to overcome, but the time has come to make history.” In April 2013, ICAO and TIACA signed a Declaration of Intent to strengthen cooperation on technical matters. Under the terms of the new agreement, ICAO and TIACA are working more closely on air cargo and mail security and facilitation, accelerating the evolution from paper-based to electronic processes, environmental stewardship, the liberalization of market access for air cargo services, and air cargo safety.