Page 445 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - JUNE 2024

In his keynote address at the 80th IATA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air

Transport Summit, convening in Dubai from 2nd to 4th June 2024, Abdullah bin Touq

said the air transport sector has a long history of fostering partnership that drives

change, connects people and supports economies and communities around the world.
“It’s also one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. Aviation accounts for 2.5%

of global CO2 emissions, but has contributed around 4% of global warming to date.”

As climate concerns reach a boiling point, he continued, achieving sustainable air travel

is no longer optional, it’s essential. “That’s why sustainability is at the forefront of our
agenda today.”

To truly make a difference, the minister explained, the aviation industry urgently needs a

collective effort. “We need increased support from both governments and the private

sector, particularly in funding and infrastructure development. This will unlock the
production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels and other promising

alternatives.”

He stressed that the UAE is at the forefront of the shift forward to a low carbon

economic model, with aviation as a key component, diversifying away from oil and
tackling climate change is among top priorities of the UAE leadership, and “we are

making tremendous efforts to accelerate transition to a low carbon economy.”

The non-oil sector represents more than 74% of our GDP in 2023. Moreover, he added,

the UAE is one of the first countries to adopt sustainability agenda and consider the
environmental impact of the aviation sector. “We actively participated in all negotiations

launched by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and endorsed all international

decisions supporting sustainability.

“Furthermore, we aim to decarbonise the aviation sector and position the UAE as a
regional hub for low carbon aviation fuel. This is why we have launched the National

https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/iata-agm-2024-uae-committed-to-development-
sustainability-of-aviation-industry-1.102948824