ICAO urges States to renew commitment to Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

ICAO urges States to renew commitment to Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) 
Ten years ago, the international community made aviation history by committing to a clear plan for carbon neutral growth.  
 

On 6 October 2016, the ICAO Assembly adopted the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)—the world’s first global market-based measure in any industry to address and reduce sector-wide carbon emissions. Through CORSIA, Member States agreed that carbon neutral growth would take effect in 2020 and that ICAO would urgently create and implement the technical framework for the achievement of this ambition. This successful landmark agreement demonstrates ICAO’s leadership and is a powerful example of what multilateral cooperation and shared purpose can achieve in the face of global challenges.

Since its inception, the design of CORSIA has ensured environmental integrity and regulatory certainty while fostering a level playing field and accommodating the special circumstances of each State. It is a core enabler not only of carbon neutral growth but also ICAO’s longer-term aspiration of net-zero carbon emissions from international civil aviation by 2050. Both CORSIA and this net-zero aspiration were unanimously supported by an unprecedented 192 ICAO Member States at last year’s ICAO Assembly.  

Importantly, CORSIA not only complements ongoing advances in aircraft technology, operational improvements, and the adoption of cleaner aviation fuels, but encourages them. It has created strong incentives for the development and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF), which enable airlines to reduce emissions directly. CORSIA’s harmonized sustainability framework helping scale up investment and adoption of these transformative fuels.  

ICAO and its Member States have achieved remarkable progress over the past ten years thanks to CORSIA. ICAO has successfully advocated for increasing numbers of eligible carbon credit programmes, and the volume of CORSIA-certified sustainable and lower carbon aviation fuels used by the sector has more than doubled in the past two years. By fulfilling its obligations under CORSIA, even during and following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, ICAO and the international aviation sector have proven its resilience and ongoing commitment.

“ICAO Member States have recognized CORSIA’s strength in responding to the climate emergency through their unanimous Resolution at the ICAO Assembly,” remarked ICAO Council President Toshiyuki Onuma. “This consensus reflects CORSIA’s central and leading role in providing the international solution to the global carbon emissions of an entire sector and confirms Member States’ collective will to maintain a globally harmonized approach, avoiding fragmented or duplicative measures.”  

As we move forward, CORSIA will continue to bring new responsibilities for all States and partners, and with them, new opportunities. ICAO will continue to deliver capacity building to ensure every Member State benefits and is advocating for greater support for these activities.  

“The continued success of CORSIA will rely on sustained cooperation, technical progress, robust implementation, and the ongoing review and inclusion of eligible carbon credit programmes and fuels,” remarked ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar. “ICAO is calling on all Member States and stakeholders to continue to stand together in enhancing CORSIA as the sole global measure addressing emissions from international aviation.”

“On this tenth anniversary, we urge all ICAO Member States and stakeholders to renew and strengthen their commitment to CORSIA, to lead the way in innovation, implementation, and ambition,” declared President Onuma.  

“The coming years will be decisive: by working together, accelerating the scale-up of sustainable aviation fuels, and ensuring robust participation and compliance, we can deliver real and lasting emissions reductions across the global aviation sector,” remarked Secretary General Salazar. “Let us seize this opportunity to fulfill the promise of CORSIA and achieve a safe, prosperous, and truly sustainable future for international civil aviation and generations to come.”