Elected President of CAAF/3 underscores ICAO’s commitment to making travel carbon neutral

Viliame Gavoka

Viliame Gavoka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of Fiji, and Elected President of the Third Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), said the aviation industry is one of the most important pillars for countries around the world, as is of utmost importance to hundreds of millions of people who travel by air annually.

The ICAO, as an international organisation affiliated with the United Nations, has a specific global commitment that aligns with the principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, he added.

In his statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of CAAF/3, Gavoka emphasised the significance of this gathering of aviation industry leaders from across the world to drive progress towards carbon-neutral travel, affirming the need for member states, including African countries, to advance their own sustainable aviation fuel production capacities.

Underscoring the economic benefits of alternative fuel production, Gavoka highlighted Fiji's tourism sector, which accounts for 40 percent of the country's GDP, stressing that investing in sustainability will foster national economic growth.

Regarding Fiji's efforts on climate change, he added that his country chaired COP23 as climate change represents a critical problem that threatens the country of 300 islands, expressing pride in his country's participation in this significant event leading toward more sustainable approaches.

Elaborating further, he said he had observed a generational shift in the approach to climate change, noting that while the pioneering generation focuses on manufacturing and industrialisation, today's youth demonstrate a heightened awareness of climate risks and embrace more environmentally-conscious practices.