Global aviation regulators and industry leaders will converge in Montréal, Canada, from May 26 to 28, 2026, for the International Civil Aviation Organization Aviation Climate Week, themed “One Global Path: Advancing Net-Zero Aviation.”
The high-level summit, to be held at ICAO headquarters, will build on resolutions adopted at the organisation’s 42nd Assembly in late 2025, where member states reaffirmed their commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions in international aviation by 2050 under the Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal framework.
The three-day event is expected to examine progress on sustainable aviation fuels, lower-carbon aviation fuels and cleaner energy alternatives, while also reviewing monitoring and reporting methodologies for carbon reduction across the aviation value chain.
For African nations, including Nigeria, the discussions are particularly significant as the continent’s aviation sector expands amid growing pressure to align with global climate commitments.
Speaking with DA News, aviation analyst Group Capt. John Ojikutu (retd.) said African states must not remain passive observers in global aviation decarbonisation efforts.
“If African countries fail to position themselves now, they risk becoming dependent on expensive carbon compliance mechanisms in the future. Climate policy is now aviation policy,” he said.
Officials at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority told our correspondent that Nigeria is reviewing its State Action Plan on aviation emissions in line with ICAO guidelines.
An official of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said Nigeria would be represented at the summit and is exploring partnerships around sustainable aviation fuel development.
He added, “The future of aviation financing will be tied to sustainability performance. Nigeria must align early to avoid economic penalties.”
By Oladele Omowunmi
