By RACHNA LAL
A workshop will be held at the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji this week with the focus on developing a State Action Plan to address carbon dioxide emissions from airplanes.
The two-day workshop will start this Wednesday and is organised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji and will be conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Civil Aviation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, will open the workshop.
It is believed the plan could save airlines millions of dollars a year while reducing carbon dioxide emissions, thus contributing towards environmental protection.
When completed, the plan be submitted to the International Civil Aviation Authority with the specific measures that have been or will be taken to address carbon dioxide emission reduction.
It will also indicate what will be required to implement it.
Authority acting chief executive, Isei Tudreu, in a statement said the authority was grateful to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) for providing the expertise and the confidence in Fiji as a host nation to organize the workshop.
The participants
Both Fiji Airways and the air navigation service provider, Airports Fiji Limited are expected to play a major role in the workshop.
They would be joined by participants from the Department of Environment, Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development & Statistics and also the authority.
“We expect those involved with the implementation of green initiatives and the provision of data and computation relating to carbon dioxide savings that would be needed for the preparation of the State Action Plan to attend,” Mr Tudreu said.
Reason behind workshop
The workshop evolved from a 2007 International Civil Aviation Authority global target initiative to create a carbon dioxide standard for aircraft by 2013.
ICAO is a United Nations Agency with 192 member countries (including Fiji).
Amongst its functions, it also supports all aspects of civil aviation including setting policies.
Air traffic management is key to reducing aircraft carbon dioxide emissions. Photo: CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF FIJI