There is an urgent need for climate friendly travel.
Details were discussed with Vijay Poonoosamy, aviation expert and former VP of Etihad Airways. Vijay is leading the WTN aviation panel.
In 2013 and as part of a wide-ranging restructuring of its divisions and management structure, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had promoted its Director of Aviation Environment, Paul Steele to Senior Vice President, Member and External Relations (MER). Paul Steel, now retired, attended the WTN panel.
Also on the panel was Chris Lyle, a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and veteran of British Airways, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the UN World Tourism Organization (as Representative to ICAO).
At ICAO responsibilities encompassed the economic regulation activities of the Organization as well as leadership of its strategic planning activities. In 1997, as the Director responsible, facilitated the acceptance of the role given to the Organization through the Kyoto Protocol and has been actively involved in aviation emissions mitigation policy ever since.
Represented ICAO and UNWTO at many international meetings, including the Assemblies of both Organizations, the IATA Annual General Meeting, as well as Airports Council International and the Council for Trade in Services of the World Trade Organization. A frequently invited speaker in international fora and author of a number of articles on the economic and environmental regulation of air transport (the latter notably for GreenAir). Guest Lecturer at McGill University, Montreal.
The outcome of this panel discussion is an advocacy project to be implemented within the Svetový cestovný ruch Network.
