ICAO Celebrates 80 Years with a Focus on "Safe Skies Sustainable Future"

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) commemorated its 80th anniversary with an Extraordinary Session of the Governing Council, highlighting the continued impact of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).

The Chicago Convention, a key international agreement signed on 7 December 1944, has shaped global civil aviation to the benefit of all peoples and nations of the world.

The meeting of the 36 members of the ICAO Council took place on 5 December in the same room of the Chicago Hilton (formerly Stevens Hotel) where the 1944 diplomatic conference was held.

The Council adopted a resolution which recognizes the significant contributions that ICAO has made over the eight decades since the 1944 meeting and looks to the future, to shape an aviation sector that is safe, sustainable and more accessible to all. The Council resolution also celebrates the significant contributions of civil aviation to global cooperation, peace, and economic development. It also urges Member States to continue promoting innovation, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability, including achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The full resolution is available here.

In a written message to the Council, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres commended ICAO’s leadership in environmental sustainability. He praised ICAO’s new Long-Term Strategic Plan for its alignment with the UN’s 2030 Agenda, particularly highlighting its focus on concrete emissions reduction, environmental protection, and capacity building through the “No Country Left Behind” initiative. The Secretary-General expressed strong support for ICAO’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

The commemorative events began on 4 December with a welcome reception featuring remarks from Mr. Pete Buttigieg, United States Secretary of Transportation. The event brought together representatives from the ICAO Council and high-level delegates from ICAO Member States, including 10 Ministers and 50 Directors General of Civil Aviation.

On 5 December, the ICAO Council held its historic Extraordinary Council session, where ICAO President Salvatore Sciacchitano told delegates that the 1944 Chicago conference was a remarkable moment in human history.

“Eighty years ago, as the Second World War still raged, 54 States came together in this very city to imagine a different future – one where aviation would serve as a bridge between nations rather than an instrument of conflict,” he expressed.

“Those delegates in 1944 could not have imagined the scale and complexity of today’s aviation system. Yet they created a framework flexible enough to accommodate technologies they could never have dreamed of, and robust enough to guide aviation’s development through decades of unprecedented change.”

ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar remarked that the theme of the anniversary – “Safe Skies. Sustainable Future” – reflected ICAO’s long-standing aspirations and dedication to achieving zero fatalities and net zero carbon emissions.

“We commit to ensuring every flight is safe and secure – building on our remarkable safety and security record while adapting to new technologies and emerging risks and threats. We pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 – evolving aviation from a contributor to climate change into a leader in sustainable transport.”

“Like the visionaries who gathered in this room 80 years ago, we face many challenges and opportunities. Today, we must transform aviation again – making it efficient and accessible, sustainable and inclusive.”

Industry stakeholders concluded the Extraordinary Council session by presenting a joint declaration celebrating eighty years of collaboration, progress and innovation since the establishment of ICAO and pledging the sector’s ongoing support to ICAO’s long term strategic vision.

The afternoon of 5 December featured three high-level roundtables addressing key themes in aviation: “Economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability – how aviation can propel the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” “The role of innovation in unlocking a sustainable future,” and “Building the future of aviation: overcoming challenges, securing investment, and achieving sustainability.” These discussions further emphasized the importance of cross-sector cooperation to drive change and ensure a sustainable future for aviation.