Montreal, Canada – Global

The United States has delivered a stinging public rebuke to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), accusing the United Nations agency of “wasting critical resources” on climate financing initiatives and warning against the implementation of new global levies on air travel.

The sharp criticism was voiced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy at the ICAO triennial Assembly in Montreal, Canada, where he urged the body to refocus on its core mandate of safety, security, and efficiency of the global air transportation system.

Headline Points

 * ‘Wasting Resources’ Allegation: The US asserted that ICAO has “extended itself far beyond its proper mandate” by pursuing “social programs or climate financing initiatives” unrelated to global aviation safety and security.

 * Opposition to Global Levies: The US fiercely opposed proposals for new global air transport taxes, specifically targeting levies like those put forth by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force (supported by countries like France and Kenya), which aim to raise revenue for general climate and development initiatives.

 * Warning Against Fragmentation: The US argued that such new taxes and “illegitimate user charges” are at odds with established ICAO principles and would “undermine the integrity and efficiency of the global air transportation system.”

 * Existing Framework is Sufficient: The US position is that the international aviation sector already has a robust climate framework in place through ICAO, specifically the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and efforts should focus on supporting innovation instead of layering new taxes.

 * Future Financial Support: Secretary Duffy explicitly linked future US financial support for ICAO to the organization’s commitment to reform and a return to its primary mission.

The Global Levy Debate

The most contentious point of the US statement focused on proposals for a new round of international levies, which have been suggested as a source of climate finance for developing nations. These proposals include taxes on aviation kerosene or fees on premium (first-class/private jet) air travel.

Secretary Duffy questioned the justification for singling out the aviation sector: “Why should international air transportation be singled out? Why should users of the global air transportation system be forced to provide a new source of revenue to any one country—all completely unrelated to the safety, security and efficiency of our skies?”

The US warned that introducing such measures would trigger a “domino effect,” forcing member states, carriers, and citizens to “shoulder disproportionate, unjust, or duplicative economic costs.”

ICAO’s Mandate under Scrutiny

The comments place the US at odds with other nations and the broader UN push for greater climate finance mobilization. The US insists that the focus on environmental financing detracts from the immediate technical priorities of the organization.

The speech concluded with a demand for greater accountability from the ICAO Secretariat, suggesting that the “radical social and green agenda” has resulted in the “siphoning [of] money, time, and energy” away from core responsibilities. The statement reinforces a growing trend of the US questioning the scope and spending priorities of international bodies to which it contributes.