Yet despite these tough economic times, which have forced many airlines to introduce radical restructuring plans, efforts are underway to make aviation more climate-friendly. Economic and environmental concerns are important drivers of these efforts, but politics as always plays an important part.

Let's face it, aircraft present an easy, or should we say, more visible target of high-carbon (read high-flying) lifestyle. As the world demands action to arrest human-induced impacts of climate change, there is increasing pressure for action from both governments and the aviation sector itself.

The European Union has so far taken the lead in developing solutions to address the aviation's climate impact. From 2012 every international airline with flights to and from the EU will have to participate in the EU CO2 Emissions Trading Scheme. This has not been without controversy, with the unilateral policy viewed by some as contrary to international law. Airlines, however, are already monitoring their emissions and implementing new measures in order to comply with scheme. According to Merrill Lynch, the total cost of compliance will be significant for the aviation sector and amount approximately to €3 billion annually.

However, while the EU Emissions Trading Scheme will apply to all flights arriving at and departing from European airports from 2012, it won't cover flights between points elsewhere in the world. To achieve real environmental benefits, without compromising the competitiveness of the industry, we need to implement a global approach covering all flights no matter where they operate.

The Aviation Global Deal (AGD) Group is helping to shape an airline-driven solution for the aviation sector. This small but progressive coalition of major airlines and international NGO, The Climate Group, has developed a draft policy framework for addressing CO2 emissions from international aviation in late 2008. The framework sets out an "ambitious, equitable and effective" way of tackling these emissions as part of a global climate change deal to be agreed in Copenhagen in December. The Group presented its proposal to climate change officials at a recent UN negotiating session in Bonn, Germany.

The AGD Group has proposed that international aviation CO2 emissions should be addressed through a global sectoral agreement, rather than a patchwork of regional initiatives, in order to avoid carbon leakage and maintain a level playing field. It recommends a 'cap and trade' emissions trading mechanism, where the sector has open access to global carbon markets.

To address the concerns of developing countries the Group has recommended that an international body administers the system and that revenue generated from the auctioning of a proportion of CO2 allowances be used for climate change activities in developing countries. This targeted use of funding for developing countries helps to ensure that those with the greater responsibility for climate change help support those most effected by it - a concrete example of the UN's 'common but differentiated responsibility' principle in action.

Mark Kenber, Policy Director, The Climate Group, said, "It is a significant step forward for leading aviation players to come to the negotiating table with constructive ideas about how to transition to a low carbon economy. We hope this will help all stakeholders better understand what the options and opportunities are for addressing international aviation emissions."

India's environment secretary, Vijai Sharma, on his return from the UN negotiations in Bonn, stressed the need to adopt 'common but differentiated responsibilities' to address this sector. Teri's Viewpoint Paper on aviation emissions (distributed at the UN's last major climate conference in Poznan, Poland) is also in consonance with this view.

The AGD Group's proposal demonstrates how the aviation sector is taking a more pro-active role in searching for solutions rather than having policy prescriptions handed down by governments.

In an important boost to its efforts, Finnair and Qatar Airways recently announced that they are joining the AGD Group. They will enter discussions alongside Air France-KLM, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic and UK airport operator BAA to develop a global policy for tackling aviation emissions. The Climate Group will continue to facilitate and support these discussions.

The announcement illustrates the momentum that is now building to develop a way forward on how emissions from the sector could be tackled under a global deal on climate change. The AGD Group's proposal is intended to support the work of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) - the global body for international airlines; and the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which has been tasked by governments with finding appropriate solutions to tackling aviation emissions.