Revealed: Corporate capture' of UN aviation body by industry

"Industry delegates outnumbered climate experts by 14 to one at the recent environmental protection meeting of the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the report found. The ICAO is the forum where nations agree the rules governing international aviation. The analysis, by the thinktank InfluenceMap, concluded that ICAO policies to tackle the climate crisis were weak and reflected the self-interest of powerful members of the aviation industry, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 350 airlines."

"The report also criticises a lack of transparency compared with other UN organisations, with the meetings where climate policies are developed being closed to the media and requiring delegates to sign non-disclosure agreements. This gives an advantage to groups opposing serious climate action that could otherwise be held publicly accountable, the analysts said. The result of this corporate capture, the report says, is that climate policy for international aviation is judged critically insufficient by the independent Climate Action Tracker analysts,"

"Our report lays out a clear case of corporate capture, said Lucca Ewbank, the transport manager at InfluenceMap. Industry lobbyists continue to dominate decision-making processes at ICAO, relying on closed-door meetings to cement their influence. In order for the aviation sector to meet the existential challenge of climate change, ICAO needs a hard course correction. Flying causes more climate-heating pollution than any other form of transport per mile and is dominated by rich passengers, with 1% of the world's population responsible for 50% of aviation emissions."

The UN civil aviation body ICAO shows strong industry dominance, with industry delegates outnumbering climate experts 14:1 at recent environmental protection meetings. Policy development often happens in closed sessions requiring non-disclosure agreements, limiting transparency and public accountability. Powerful industry groups such as IATA exert influence that yields weak emissions policies. Independent analysts judge international aviation policy as critically insufficient and aligned with pathways exceeding 4°C of warming. Aviation emits more climate-heating pollution per mile than other transport modes, and emissions are concentrated among wealthy flyers, with 1% of the global population responsible for about half of aviation emissions.

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