10 January 2025

GreenAir News

Reporting on aviation and the environment

COP26 Diary of Events

UPDATE: A full report and video recordings of aviation-relevant events that took place at COP26 are now available here

Date/timeEventOrganiserLocationDetails
Thursday 4 November
18:30 - 19:45Inspiring a Green Flying FutureICAO
(Lorenzo Gavilli
LGavilli@icao.int)
Derwentwater, Room 4, Zone C / Blue ZoneProgramme on ICAO COP26 web page: https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/Pages/cop26.aspx.
Recording available below
Monday 8 November
08:15 - 09:00Nordic Sustainable Aviation - Skymiles ahead?Nordic Energy Research & Nordic Innovation
Nordic Pavilion / Blue Zone. Livestream available by registering at https://www.wedonthavetime.org/event/cop26#RegisterSpeakers: Niels Buus Kristensen, Institute of Transport Economics; Maria Fiskerud, Nordic Network for Electric Aviation; Arvid Løken, Avinor; and Tore Skoglund, Nordic Drone Initiative
Recording available below
Tuesday 9 November
10:25 - 11:05Sustainable Innovation ForumClimate ActionSustainable Innovation Forum / External
16:00 - 18:30NetZero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism LaunchWTTC, UNEP and AccentureBarras Arts and Design, Glasgow / ExternalDetails here: https://www.unep.org/events/publication-launch/launch-net-zero-roadmap-travel-and-tourism-proposing-new-target-framework
18:30 - 20:30Fly Net ZeroAir Transport Action Group (ATAG)Glasgow Airport / ExternalThe event will look at how aviation can achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. A keynote address by Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce, will be followed by four panel debates addressing each of the pillars of action needed to fly net zero: sustainable aviation fuels, technology, operations & infrastructure and government support, including the ICAO Assembly 2022.
Wednesday 10 November (Transport Day)
10:00 - 11:00Sustainable aviation fuel: From ambition to actionMission Possible Partnership, WEF Clean Skies for Tomorrow, RMI, Climate ChampionsWe Mean Business, The Climate Pledge Theatre, Hall 5 / Blue Zone. Livestream: https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/cop26-climate-pledge-theatre-live/Speakers: Melanie Kreis, CFO, DPDHL; Christoph Beuttler, Head of Climate Policy, Climeworks; Patrick Healy, Chairman, Cathay Pacific; Scott Kirby, CEO, United Airlines; Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce; Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, LanzaTech; Chris Raymond, CSO, Boeing. Moderator: Amy Chiang, VP, Honeywell
Recording available below
11:15 - 12:00Delivering Jet ZeroUK Department for Transport (DfT) / Sustainable AviationUK Pavilion / Blue ZoneRobert Courts MP, UK Aviation Minister; Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Committee on Climate Change; Emma Gilthorpe, Jet Zero Council CEO and Heathrow Airport; Jonathon Counsell, IAG Group Head of Sustainability; Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech CEO; Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia CEO
Recording available below
11:30 - 13:00Target True Zero: Catalyzing Action on Novel PropulsionWEFRadisson Blu / ExternalCommitment from a number of airlines on zero-emission technologies and panel discussion on novel propulsion
12:00 - 13:00Sustainable Connectivity? Meet the Net Zero airport of the future - todayACI World & ACI EuropeClimate Action Hub / Blue ZoneVideo recording here: https://unfccc-cop26.streamworld.de/webcast/aci-world-aci-europe-sustainable-connectivity-meet
13:00 - 15:45Transport ActionUNFCCC Marrakech PartnershipClimate Action Hub / Blue ZoneHigh-level event on transport action. The ICAO Secretary General will contribute a video message.
14:00 - 15:00Decarbonizing TransportMcKinseyVirtual. Register at https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/how-we-help-clients/cop26/agendaMobility contributes around 20% of global GHG emissions. Not only will decarbonizing transport become critical for achieving net zero, but transport is one of the few sectors where decarbonization actually delivers a net cost savings to society. This panel, which includes Chris Raymond, Chief Sustainability Officer, Boeing, will explore the momentum behind transport decarbonization.
15:00 - 17:00Accelerating Aviation to Climate NeutralityUniversity of CambridgeClimate Action Hub / Blue ZoneAviation Industry Accelerator is an industry-academic collaboration with a simulator to help create industry alignment and a whole system understanding
Video recording available here: https://unfccc-cop26.streamworld.de/webcast/university-of-cambrige-accelerating-aviation-to-cl
15:30 - 17:00International Aviation Climate AmbitionUK DfTUNFCCC space / Blue Zone
Room 4
Launch and declaration by UK-led coalition of 20 states calling for adoption of long-term goal at ICAO Assembly in 2022 and advancing the environmental ambition of CORSIA
Video recording available here: https://unfccc-cop26.streamworld.de/webcast/presidency-event-international-aviation-climate-am
16:00 - 16:30Rolls-Royce Net Zero Aviation TalkRolls-RoyceClimate Action Hub / Blue ZoneVideo recording available here: https://unfccc-cop26.streamworld.de/webcast/atag-rolls-royce-flightpath-to-net-zero
16:30 - 17:30Leading the Way to the Future of FlightSustainable Aviation Buyers AllianceU.S. Center / Blue ZoneRecording available below
17:45 - 19:15Clean Skies for Tomorrow: SAF AmbassadorsUK DfT, WEF, UN Climate ChampionsUK Pavilion / Blue ZoneThe Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Ambassadors, alongside the World Economic Forum (WEF), have developed a SAF policy toolkit, containing blueprints of innovative and practical SAF policy proposals that can be implemented by states and industry in all regions. This reception event will feature the launch of the toolkit and provide an opportunity to hear from the governments and other partners involved.
Recording available below
Friday 12 November (EU Sustainable Transport Day https://www.cop26eusideevents.eu/)
10:00 - 11:00New Fuels for a Better AviationEU Side EventsEU Pavilion / Blue ZonePanel moderated by Filip Cornelis (Director, DG MOVE, EC) with participants Kelley Kizzier, EDF; Karl Hauptmeier, Sunfire & Norsk e-fuels; Thomas Reynaert, A4E; and Jane Hupe, ICAO.
Recording available below
11:30 - 12:30Decarbonising Aviation: Views from civil society and industryEU Side EventsEU Pavilion / Blue ZonePanel moderated by Chloe Farand, Climate Home News, with participants A4E Chairman Johan Lundgren (easyJet CEO) representing Destination 2050 partners; Andrew Murphy, Transport & Environment; Sarah Colenbrander, Overseas Development Institute; and Bernice Notenboom, documentary film producer of 'Sky Gods'.
Recording available below
13:00 - 14:00Destination Carbon Neutrality: Policies for decarbonization of aviation and maritime transportEU Side EventsEU Pavilion / Blue ZonePanel moderated by Jacob Armstrong, Transport & Environment, wth panelists Rasmus Bach Nielsen, Trafigura Group; Amy Ruddock, Carbon Engineering; Damien Meadows, European Commission; Martin Cames, Öko-Institut; and Bas Eickhout, European Parliament.
Recording available below

Note: ICAO will present its statement and submission to the opening session of SBSTA. ICAO is also providing input to various events, together with outreach materials that will be showcased on a dedicated ICAO ENV COP26 webpage and in the UNFCCC electronic exhibit area. ICAO has released a new video to coincide with COP26:

Useful links:

UNFCCC COP26 Overview Schedule (Sessions & Agendas, Documents & Sumissions, Events & Schedules, Media & Webcast: https://unfccc.int/conference/glasgow-climate-change-conference-october-november-2021

UNFCCC COP26 Livestreaming and on demand: https://unfccc-cop26.streamworld.de/program

UNFCCC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlvsGJAR8NsiyLzuBf_cQg

UNFCCC side events schedule: https://seors.unfccc.int/applications/seors/reports/events_list.html?session_id=COP26

UK COP26 Presidency programme: https://ukcop26.org/the-conference/presidency-programme/

COP26 Social media channels: https://unfccc.int/COP26/social-media

EU COP26 side events programme: https://www.cop26eusideevents.eu/

U.S. Center at COP26: https://www.state.gov/climate-crisis/cop-26/

CarbonBrief provides a daily briefing: https://www.carbonbrief.org/

Climate Home’s Climate Weekly free newsletter will be providing a daily newsletter at 10am UK time during COP26: https://climatechangenews.com/subscribe/

A negotiating issue at COP26 is completion of the Paris Rulebook, and specifically the guidance for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which has important implications for the carbon markets. The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) has a Business Hub in Hall 5 of the Blue Zone and a dedicated website with a daily briefing and list of events: https://www.ieta.org/COP26

Event recordings:

ICAO: Inspiring a Green Flying Future – Nov 4

Panellists: Lorenzo Gavilli, Liaison Officer, ICAO (moderator); Jane Hupe, Deputy Director, Environment, ICAO (via video link); Molly Peters-Stanley, U.S. Department of State and ICAO TAB Chair; Dirk Forrister, President & CEO, International Emissions Trading Association; Haldane Dodd, Executive Director, Air Transport Action Group
Programme here

Nordic Sustainable Aviation: Skymiles ahead? – Nov 8

Niels Buus Kristensen, Chief Research Economist, Institute of Transport Economics; Maria Fiskerud, Project Manager, Nordic Network for Electric Aviation (NEA); Arvid Løken, Senior Adviser, Avinor; and Tore Skoglund, Project Manager, Nordic Drone Initiative
Programme here

Sustainable aviation fuel: From ambition to action – Nov 10

Speakers: Melanie Kreis, CFO, DPDHL; Christoph Beuttler, Head of Climate Policy, Climeworks; Patrick Healy, Chairman, Cathay Pacific; Scott Kirby, CEO, United Airlines; Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce; Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, LanzaTech; Chris Raymond, CSO, Boeing. Moderator: Amy Chiang, VP, Honeywell

Delivering Jet Zero – Nov 10

Robert Courts MP, UK Aviation Minister; Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Committee on Climate Change; Emma Gilthorpe, Jet Zero Council CEO and Heathrow Airport; Jonathon Counsell, IAG Group Head of Sustainability; Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech CEO; Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia CEO

Leading the Way to the Future of Flight – Nov 10

Event focusing on the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA) with keynote by Pete Buttigieg, US Transportation Secretary, presentations by Bryan Fisher, MD, RMI and Kim Carnahan of the SABA Secretariat, followed by panel session moderated by Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund with panellists including Scott Kirby, CEO, United Airlines and Diana Burkitt Rakow, SVP Public Affairs & Sustainability, Alaska Air

Clean Skies for Tomorrow: SAF Ambassadors – Nov 10

Launch of sustainable aviation fuels policy toolkit for countries. Hosted by UK Aviation Minister Robert Courts

New fuels for a better aviation: the case for using SAF – Nov 12

EU side event panel session moderated by Filip Cornelis, DG MOVE, European Commission, with panellists Thomas Reynaert, Airlines for Europe; Kelley Kizzier, Environmental Defense Fund; Karl Hauptmeier, Norsk e-Fuel; and Jane Hupe, ICAO

Decarbonising aviation: Views from civil society and industry – Nov 12

EU side event panel session moderated by Chloé Farand, Climate Home News, with panellists Johan Lundgren, A4E Chairman and CEO of easyJet; Bernice Notenboom, documentary film producer of ‘Sky Gods’; Sarah Colenbrander, Overseas Development Institute; and Andrew Murphy, Transport & Environment

Destination carbon neutrality: Policies for decarbonization of aviation and maritime transport – Nov 12

EU side event session moderated by Jacob Armstrong, Transport & Environment, wth panellists Rasmus Bach Nielsen, Trafigura Group; Amy Ruddock, Carbon Engineering; Damien Meadows, European Commission; Martin Cames, Öko-Institut; and Bas Eickhout, European Parliament.

COP26 GREENAIR ARTICLES:

Progress on decarbonising the airline sector has been slow this year, says IATA chief

EASA releases status report on Europe’s SAF production and readiness to meet blending targets

UK government sets out new Jet Zero focus and launches consultation on CORSIA global emissions scheme

European and US research programmes expand to better understand aviation non-CO2 climate effects