Nigeria has joined the rest of the world to participate in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) global market-based measure (MBM): Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) with pilot phase in 2021.
This is captured in a letter to ICAO signed by Muhtar Usman, the Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Usman stated that the Nigerian State Action Plan on mitigation of CO2 emissions submitted in 2015 was currently being updated, but noted that the country required assistance to carry out this update to ensure a successful participation in the pilot stage of CORSIA.
“I have the honour to inform you of Nigeria’s decision to voluntarily participate in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), starting from the pilot stage in 2021. Nigeria is a strong supporter of ICAO’s work in the mitigation of CO2 emission in international aviation,” the letter read.
Usman also made a request to ICAO to include Nigeria in European Union (EU) Project for capacity building for CO2 mitigation for international aviation, saying that this would assist Nigeria to come up with a robust action plan and develop the capacity to implement the plan.
ICAO Council President, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, corroborated Nigeria’s stance at the just concluded International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Cancun Mexico while addressing the gathering.
He said: “Last October, world governments endorsed the CORSIA at ICAO’s 39th Assembly, with countries representing over 80 percent of international flight operations volunteering to participate as early as its pilot phase in 2021.
“Since that time, Saudi Arabia, Gabon, El Salvador and most recently Nigeria have also signalled their intention to join, meaning that some 90 percent of international operations will be covered by the CORSIA when it launches.”
A market-based measure (MBM) is a policy tool that is designed to achieve environmental goals at a lower cost and in a more flexible manner than traditional regulatory measures. Examples of MBMs include levies, emissions trading systems, and carbon offsetting.
