Short for Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, CORSIA is a market framework developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to decarbonise the aviation industry.
At CFP Energy, we are at the forefront of CORSIA and the changes it will bring. Soon, the scheme will be mandatory rather than voluntary, so early preparation is essential. Get in touch with our carbon specialists today to plan your transition.
CORSIA, as part of its mandate to promote sustainable aviation, seeks to achieve "carbon-neutral growth". This means that the UN-led mandate aims to maintain the total level of emissions in aviation at the 2020 level (265.24 mega tonnes) while still allowing for growth necessary for the industry to survive and meet demand.
In practice, where airlines exceed their baseline CO₂ emissions, CORSIA mandates that they must offset the difference by buying and cancelling their eligible emissions units (traded in the form of carbon credits).
These credits represent verified reductions or removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from distinct applications, including renewable cookstove projects, reforestation, methane capture, and mitigation of HFC emissions.
To ensure aviation adapts to the changing regulations, CORSIA has been rolled out in key phases – from the initial voluntary pilot phase (2021–2023) to phase 1 (2024–2026) & phase 2 (2027–2035). The 3-stage process will gradually ease the transition to mandatory offsetting.
CORSIA also introduces rigorous monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) standards to ensure the environmental integrity of carbon offsets used by airlines.
Third-party verification bodies, such as Verra, Gold Standard, and Climate Action Reserve (CAR), ensure the validity of carbon offsets, while, after each year of operation, airlines must produce an annual report outlining fuel use and emissions data.
Each emissions report must then be verified by one of the designated bodies outlined above before its submission to the administrating authority, ensuring that any emissions registered are accurate and correspond to an equivalent unit of offsets.
While CORSIA will apply to 129 countries once fully implemented, the mandate comes with fairly narrow restrictions, with the scheme only applying to international travel.
For this reason, Internal flights, including military, customs and police flights, as well as commercial airliners, are excluded from the scheme.
In addition, small emitters - operators whose total CO₂ emissions from international flights are below or equal to 10,000. tonnes - are also exempt from CORSIA.
One Emissions unit (also known as a carbon credit) represents the reduction of 1 metric tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere, whether from emissions avoidance or carbon removal.
EEUs can be purchased via the carbon market through a process of retirement and surrender. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) uses the term “cancellation” to define the single use of an emissions unit that can’t be used more than once.
It is also important to note that the quantity of emissions units to surrender (or to cancel) must be equal to the amount of the final offsetting requirements for a given compliance period. This prevents double-counting or the potential reuse of EEUs.
The carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation (CORSIA), although starting as a voluntary pilot scheme, has already established itself as a key tool in managing emissions growth in international aviation. CORSIA credits are pivotal to the aviation industry’s aim to cap emissions and contribute to global climate goals.
However, reliance on credits is only a short-term solution. Long-term strategies include investment in SAFs or SAF Credits, fleet upgrades, and operational efficiencies. Airlines with slower decarbonisation may face higher offsetting costs, incentivising the need to execute a roadmap as soon as possible to mitigate the cost of delaying.
At CFP Energy, we’re perfectly placed to transition your business to CORSIA. Whether you need access to Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs) or SAF and SAF Credits, we provide a range of solutions to meet your offset obligations and climate targets.
To see how we can help you access carbon offsets for CORSIA, contact us today.