Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation Latest News

With just over two months remaining before CORSIA’s mandatory phase kicks in, India is yet to finalise a comprehensive national Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) policy.

About Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation 

• It is a global market-based mechanism to reduce carbon emissions from international flights. 
• It was adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2016.
• It is the first global market-based measure for any industry sector.  
• Under CORSIA, airlines compensate for their international flight’s CO₂ emissions by purchasing carbon offsets. 
  • A carbon offset is a credit for carbon reductions made by one party that can be purchased to compensate for the emissions generated by another party. 
• Under CORSIA, airlines operating international flights between participating states must monitor, report, and verify (MRV) their CO₂ emissions, and purchase eligible emissions units (“offsets”) to compensate for growth in emissions above an established baseline. 
• Originally the baseline was set as the average of 2019 and 2020 emissions, but in 2020 the ICAO Council adjusted the baseline to 2019-only levels to prevent the COVID-19 collapse in air travel from making the scheme unduly stringent. 
• CORSIA only applies to international flights. Domestic emissions fall under the scope of the UNFCCC and are covered by the Paris Agreement.  
• The scheme runs in phases:
  • A pilot phase (2021–2023) and first phase (2024–2026), both voluntary, in which roughly 120+ states have volunteered.
  • A mandatory phase (2027-2035), covering all ICAO member states except those exempted (least developed countries, small island developing states, landlocked developing countries, and states with very small shares of international aviation activity).
• Compliance reports covering 2024‑2026 emissions are due to national authorities by 31 January 2028. 
• Environmental Integrity: 
  • There are several ways to achieve CO₂ reductions that can be used as offsets, many of which bring other social, environmental, or economic benefits relevant to sustainable development. 
  • Such offsets can be sourced from various types of activities, including, for example, the deployment of renewable energy, clean cooking technologies, methane capture, forestry, and other emissions-reducing projects. 
  • To ensure the environmental integrity of CORSIA, the ICAO Council periodically approves a list of programs that can supply CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs) to be used for compliance. 

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Key Facts about International Civil Aviation Organization 

• ICAO is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency, established in 1944 by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944), known as the Chicago Convention.
• It is dedicated to developing safe and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes.
• Member countries: It consists of 193 Member States
• Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.
• Governance:
  • ICAO Assembly: It is convened every three years, is the organization’s sovereign body, comprising all 193 signatory States to the Chicago Convention.
  • ICAO Council: It consists of 36-member, elected by the 193 Member States during the Assembly, and serves as the governing body for a three-year term.
• Functions:
  • It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security and facilitation, efficiency, and economic development of air transport as well as to improve the environmental performance of aviation. 
  • It also serves as a clearinghouse for cooperation and discussion on civil aviation issues among its 193 member states.
  • It also promotes regional and international agreements aimed at liberalizing aviation markets.
  • It helps to establish legal standards to ensure that the growth of aviation does not compromise safety and encourages the development of other aspects of international aviation law.

News: TH