ENAC confirmes its commitment to promote actions, at both national and international level, to reduce the noise and gas emissions produced by air transport activities, with particular regard to the initiatives to prevent climate change.
The goal is to ensure a sustainable development of air transport, so that the enormous increase of air traffic expected in the next years can guarantee the economic and social growth, while respecting the environment. ENAC represents Italy in the ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) and
in particular in its working groups, where international experts contribute to the definition of the future policies, rules, standards and recommended practices of civil aviation, in line with the goals established by ICAO Assembly.
During the past year, ENAC took part with its staff to the following working group programmes within the 11th cycle of CAEP:
- Emissions of the future supersonic aircraft and helicopter noises; study on the effects of the sonic boom of aircraft recently certified and soon available on the market; analysis of helicopter noise reduction, in view of the revision of the current legislation. (WG1)
- Emissions reduction by increasing the efficiency of operations and of airports; improvement of air traffic management and of new ATM technologies; involvement of communities affected by emissions; evaluation of the impacts on climate and plans to recycle the aircraft at end-of-life. (WG2)
- Identification of criteria for the application of the Particulate Matter Standard (highly harmful for the health), which should be adopted during the next CAEP cycle (WG3).
- Modelling and economic forecasting related to the Standard elaborations (MDG/FESG);
- Containment and compensation of the effects of CO2 emissions through environmental projects; road map to implement the future global emissions reduction scheme “CORSIA” (Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation); adoption of alternative fuel sustainability criteria in aviation and, in particular, of those included in CORSIA scheme (GMTF);
- Study on alternative fuels with a low environmental impact; definition of criteria for their use according to CORSIA scheme (biofuels, provided with a specific sustainability certification, will be included in the counting of CO2 shares and therefore be compensated as provided for in CORSIA scheme (AFTF).
ENAC contribution to CAEP and to its subgroups is consistent with the environmental strategic goal established by ECAC and with the EU environmental strategies (DG MOVE and DG CLIMA).
In order to provide a top level technical and scientific contribution in the international fora, ENAC’s experts are supported by the main stakeholders’ representatives and by personalities of high standing from the academic world.
ENAC Department competent for environmental protection issues
Air Transport & Environment Regulation Dept.