CORSIA NEWSLETTER - May 2021

 

CORSIA Volunteer States

88 States are already participating in CORSIA from its pilot phase that started on 1 January 2021. The ICAO CORSIA document containing the list of these States can be found here. 

Be part of CORSIA from 2022! 

Be part of the ICAO efforts to address the impact of international aviation on the global climate by joining CORSIA now! Click here for a sample letter that you can use to notify ICAO of your State's participation in CORSIA. ICAO will reflect this important step in demonstrating your State's contribution to aviation emissions reductions on the ICAO website.

This newsletter supports your decision to join CORSIA. For any further clarifications, please contact ICAO at officeenv@icao.int. The ICAO Secretariat is ready to assist you. 

Benefits of Voluntary Participation in CORSIA

Climate change is a global problem, which requires global efforts. The CORSIA is a global scheme for the global international aviation industry. The more States join the CORSIA, the more emissions are covered by the offsetting requirements of the Scheme and the higher its environmental effectiveness becomes. Each participating State brings ICAO closer to meeting its global aspirational goal of carbon neutral growth. For a State that does not have an operator attributed to it (and therefore no compliance cost is incurred), its participation in the Scheme will add those routes operated by foreign operators between the State and other participating States, thus increasing the overall emissions coverage of CORSIA. For States with particular interest in eco-tourism, participation in CORSIA provides the additional benefit of greening air transport connections to the rest of the world.

States that voluntarily participate in the pilot phase of CORSIA and require assistance will be given priority within the ACT-CORSIA capacity building and assistance programme, with a view to enabling the smooth implementation of the Scheme under the spirit of the "No Country Left Behind". Building upon the experience in previous capacity building and assistance initiatives, this can create further synergies for the improvement of the overall environmental performance in those States.

Assembly Resolution A40-19, paragraph 23, requests the Council to promote the use of emissions units that benefit developing States. Participating in CORSIA will increase the demand for the emissions units to be purchased by aeroplane operators, thus increasing incentives to invest in emissions reduction projects in participating States. 

CORSIA and COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of remedial measures and decisions have been taken by ICAO regarding the CORSIA implementation.

Assembly Resolution A40-19 contains a safeguard provision (paragraph 16) to ensure that CORSIA is implemented with due consideration of the sustainable development, and against inappropriate economic burden on international aviation. This safeguard provision was recalled by the ICAO Council at its 220th Session in June 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was decided that during CORSIA's pilot phase (2021-2023), 2019 emissions shall be used for 2020 emissions, without changing the provisions of Annex 16, Volume IV or Assembly Resolution A40-19 text.

Since this decision, the ICAO Council has continued monitoring the potential impacts of COVID-19 on CORSIA implementation by considering various inputs, including the analyses undertaken by the Council's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). The latest analyses show that CO₂ emissions from international aviation may not recover to the 2019 baseline levels until no earlier than 2023, which marks the end of CORSIA's pilot phase.

The ICAO Council's continuous monitoring of the situation allows for ICAO to quickly respond to an ever-evolving situation, guaranteeing the implementation of CORSIA along the premises set by Assembly Resolution A40-19, and safeguarding against inappropriate economic burden on aeroplane operators.

In addition, to ensure the continuous improvement of CORSIA implementation provisions, a periodic review is included in the CORSIA framework, allowing for the incorporation of best practices and lessons learned that will further improve the performance of the Scheme. In March 2021, the ICAO Council agreed on the process and methodology for undertaking the 2022 CORSIA periodic review, which, amongst others, will offer an opportunity to examine the impact of COVID-19 on CORSIA on various issues, including the impact on the CORSIA baseline emissions beyond the pilot phase. Any recommendations by the Council will be forwarded for consideration by the 41st ICAO Assembly in 2022.

More information on CORSIA and COVID-19 can be found here.

CORSIA and COVID-19

The backbone of CORSIA is the preparedness of all ICAO States for its implementation. Being the first of its kind, CORSIA requires an innovative approach for capacity building and assistance. To ensure such preparedness and in the best spirit of 'No Country Left Behind', ICAO developed the Assistance, Capacity Building and Training programme on CORSIA, known as ACT-CORSIA. It was established in June 2018 and encompasses the CORSIA Buddy Partnerships and all other ICAO outreach initiatives including sample model regulations for CORSIA, frequently asked questions (latest version reflecting developments in 2020), brochure and leaflets, videos as well as CORSIA seminars/webinars and online tutorials.

ACT-CORSIA Buddy Partnerships constitute the core of capacity building activities that encompass the provision of training to CORSIA Focal Points. Since 2018 there have been three phases of training involving a total of 134 States (118 requesting States and 16 supporting States – see table below for a complete list). These training activities have provided crucial assistance to facilitate the implementation of CORSIA in all ICAO regions. Requesting States have now both the knowledge and tools to help them fulfill the requirements under the Scheme.