The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have urged governments and aviation stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). The scheme, established ten years ago, aims to reduce carbon emissions from international aviation. ICAO noted that 192 member states unanimously endorsed CORSIA and the industry's net-zero carbon emissions ambition at the 2026 ICAO Assembly.
ICAO said CORSIA was designed to provide environmental integrity and regulatory certainty while maintaining a level-playing field for international airlines. The organisation stressed that CORSIA complements advances in aircraft technology, improved flight operations, and the development and use of cleaner aviation fuels. These include Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF). ICAO highlighted that CORSIA's harmonised sustainability framework has encouraged greater investment in and adoption of these fuels.
Significant progress has been made in implementing CORSIA over the past decade. This includes an increase in the number of eligible carbon-credit programmes and a doubling of CORSIA-certified sustainable and lower-carbon aviation fuels used by the industry in the past two years. ICAO also noted the industry's ability to maintain its commitments under CORSIA despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ICAO Council president, Toshiyuki Onuma, emphasised the importance of CORSIA in addressing the climate emergency. He said the unanimous support given to CORSIA by member states demonstrates the importance attached to having a single global solution to international aviation emissions. Onuma urged governments and stakeholders to renew and strengthen their commitment to CORSIA.
ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar said the future effectiveness of CORSIA depends on sustained international cooperation, technological progress, and effective implementation. He called on member states and stakeholders to continue to stand together in enhancing CORSIA as the sole global measure addressing emissions from international aviation.
The coming years will be critical for translating CORSIA's commitments into measurable emissions reductions. Salazar said that by working together, accelerating the scale-up of sustainable aviation fuels, and ensuring robust participation and compliance, real and lasting emissions reductions can be achieved across the global aviation sector.
The tenth anniversary of CORSIA serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate change. Governments and aviation stakeholders are being urged to use this milestone to reinforce their commitment to the scheme and lead the way in innovation, implementation, and ambition.
Key points
- ICAO and IATA are calling on governments to strengthen their commitment to CORSIA.
- CORSIA has made significant progress over the past decade, including an increase in eligible carbon-credit programmes.
- The future effectiveness of CORSIA depends on sustained international cooperation and technological progress.
