SACAA Annual Report 2022_23

PART B I Performance Information

As much as ICAO stipulates directives on how to make use of a balanced approach to noise management at airports and encourages a balance between the needs of commercial activity versus the rights of residents in the vicinity of an airport, it is the responsibility of the different Member States to encourage the application of LUP and to manage policies that limit the encroachment of incompatible development into noise-sensitive areas. The SACAA encourages the establishment of a consultative committee by airports, incorporating all affected parties. This is to address and discuss issues related to AEP in the environment that is in close proximity to an aerodrome. Resolution A39-2 encourages the implementation of the new Annex 16 Vol Ill (CO2 Emissions Certification Standard) and the ICAO basket of measures, to limit CO2 emissions in order to promote the sustainable growth of the sector. As such, this resolution introduced the development of the State Action Plan (SAP), which aims to address the reduction of CO2 emissions from international civil aviation activity. The baseline of CO2 estimations was established as being from 2016 until 2050, which projections are also made based on the improved Traffic Management measures that are currently being implemented, including the carbon market-based measure. After the adoption of the CORSIA, the SACAA under the auspices of the Department of Transport has been participating as a donor state providing assistance, capacity building and training on CORSIA (ACT-CORSIA) initiatives to recipient states since 2018 under the ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative. The country’s implementation of the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) started in 2019, where aeroplane operators gathered their annual emissions to be submitted to SACAA in April 2020.

The recognition of South Africa’s aviation systems by leading aviation States has huge economic benefits for the State and the operators in the country. 5.3.3 AVIATION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (AEP) The SACAA endeavours to assist in reducing the contribution of aviation towards the global environmental impact through appropriate measures that include the development of the regulations on environmental protection. Four (4) volumes under ICAO Annex 16 deal with this matter, namely, Volume I – Aircraft Noise, Volume II – Aircraft Engine Emissions, Aeroplane CO2 Emissions and Volume IV – the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), that also aligns with the ICAO assembly resolutions on policies and practices related to environmental protection. Other responsibilities include the establishment of guidance material for Land-Use Planning (LUP) and management in as far as aviation is concerned, without usurping the responsibility of the Local Authorities to give effect to their own mandates and make their own regulations. The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or CORSIA, is a global scheme for offsetting CO2 emissions from international aviation activities, which also aims to contribute to the world-wide ambitious goals for climate neutrality. AEP continues to raise aviation industry awareness on CORSIA and other environmental protection issues to ensure compliance to all relevant legal and environmental requirements in as far as the Civil Aviation Act and Bill provides for such a mandate. The AEP imperatives are included in the SARPs and guidance material from ICAO to curb carbon emissions in civil aviation and to improve the quality of the environment, based on a balanced approach.

70 I Annual Report 2022/23 I Performance Information