A long-term plan to curb carbon emissions from flying has been agreed upon.
The International Civil Aviation Authority pledged to support a net zero aviation goal by the year 2050.
The plan was accepted by the 192 countries who are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The deal is weak according to green groups.
Aviation and shipping were missing when the world came together in Paris to agree on a plan to tackle climate change.
The airline industry contributes 2.5% of global carbon emissions, but scientists think it has a much higher impact on climate change.
The effects of flying include the altitudes planes fly at and the effects of the water-vapour trails created by engines.
John Kerry is the US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change.
He said he was thrilled to see international aviation commit to a sustainable future with a long term climate goal.
The UN body tasked with regulating the carbon footprint of air travel is under increasing pressure from consumers and scientists to find ways to decarbonise air travel.
At their triennial assembly in Montreal this week they finally agreed to support a net zero target for 2050 despite complaints from China and Russia.
One of the first countries to include aviation emission in their climate targets was the UK.
56 countries are pushing for anambitious deal in Montreal.
"This week, members of the International Civil Aviation Organization agreed to a collective goal of net zero international aviation by 2050 - a historic milestone, not just for the future of flying, but for the wider international commitment to achieve net zero," said Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
The UK and its partners have worked hard to lead the world towards a clean future.
Environmentalists are concerned that the new plan is not binding and that the ICAO has no power to enforce it.
The results of this assembly shouldn't fool you. "This isn't going to fix aviation's problem," said Jo Dardenne of Transport & Environment.
We're going to have to stop burning fuel. If you want to stop burning kerosene, you need to price it more effectively and invest in alternatives.
The best way to deal with future emissions is through a system of carbon offsets.
Companies and individuals buy carbon credits from schemes such as forest plantations to cancel out carbon emissions from activities such as flying.
All emissions above the baseline year would have to be offset.
They had originally planned to use an average of flying emissions in the next two years, but the decline in air transport caused them to change their minds.
The industry didn't like the idea of a low baseline that would have forced airlines to offset more emissions.
The threshold has been set as 85% of carbon emissions, allowing a higher level of carbon dioxide pollution before airlines have to purchase offsets.
Campaigners found that CORSIA would add just 2.40 to the price of a long-haul flight in 2030.
22% of future emissions will be covered by the scheme agreed in Montreal.
Some say the assembly's decisions gave them some hope that airlines will push for more sustainable jet fuels.
It is up to member states to implement the proper regulations.
Even if the target is not binding, member states still have to be ambitious in their climate plans.
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