Durban – South African Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, is leading a high-profile delegation to the third International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3), being held in Dubai. The Department of Transport announced this pivotal participation on Monday.

According to South African Government News Agency, The CAAF/3 conference, scheduled from November 20 to 24, 2023, is expected to gather top officials from various countries responsible for aviation policy, alongside international organizations dedicated to promoting cleaner energy solutions in aviation. It aims to facilitate in-depth discussions, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among participants on sustainable aviation fuel initiatives.

Minister Chikunga conveyed her enthusiasm about heading the South African delegation to the conference, highlighting South Africa’s commitment to sustainable aviation. The Minister stated that South Africa’s active participation is crucial in shaping a more sustainable future for aviation, aligning with global goals and principles of the ICAO’s No Country Left Behind (NCLB) initiative.

South Africa’s involvement in CAAF/3 is particularly significant, given its ongoing engagement in ICAO initiatives related to sustainable aviation. The conference is a continuation of the successful Second ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/2) held in October 2017, which endorsed the “2050 Vision for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).”

This vision marked a significant step toward a more sustainable future in aviation, focusing on the development and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Lower Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF), and other cleaner energy sources for the aviation sector.

Following the endorsement of this vision, the 41st Session of the ICAO Assembly in October 2022 requested the ICAO Council to continue monitoring progress in this area as part of the ICAO Stocktaking process. As a result, the Council was charged with organizing CAAF/3 in 2023 to review the 2050 ICAO Vision for SAF, including LCAF and other cleaner energy sources for aviation. This initiative aims to establish a global framework in accordance with the NCLB initiative while considering the individual circumstances and capabilities of each nation.