With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, sustainable air transport was reinforced as an enabler of sustainable development and its improvements should be embedded in development frameworks. ICAO supports the 2030 Agenda implementation by assisting Member States in enhancing their air transport systems contributing to the SDGs. ICAO invited DESA, OHRLLS, WBG, and ATAG to join the Aviation Partnerships for Sustainable Development (APSD), which tailors events to Countries in Special Situations aiming at sensitizing high-level government officials, raising awareness about the contributions of aviation to sustainable development, and promoting the benefits of mobilizing resources for and investing in sustainable aviation.

APSD events promote the socio-economic benefits of aviation, sensitize attendees on the fact that ICAO compliance is critical to sustainable development, foster the prioritization the air transport sector in development plans, and share information on how to finance enhancements for air transport improvements. These high-level events are focused on countries in special situations, e.i. least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing States (SIDS) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and organized in conjunction with major conferences attended by States high-level officials of finance, development, and foreign affairs. The partners and States actively participate in these events to share their experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned in enhancing sustainable aviation and also assisting other States in achieving so.

The next steps of the APSD is to progress calls for action that will allow States to embed aviation in national development plans and program the necessary improvement of an air transport system so that the resulting benefits can be materialized. Capacity-building and technology transfer is reached as follow-up of the events.

A Steering Committee (SC) representing all partners holds bi-annual teleconferences to monitor progress this initiative. The SC decided on events to be undertaken by the APSD and working level focal points work in its execution.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) World Bank Group (WBG), and Air Transport Action Group (ATAG)