IATA CALLS FOR STRONGER GLOBAL FRAMEWORK FOR AVIATION EMISSIONS
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to strengthen the global framework for aviation emissions, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2016, CORSIA established the first global market-based measure for an industrial sector. More than 130 countries participate in the scheme, which is expected to mitigate approximately 200 million tonnes of CO₂ by the end of 2026.
The anniversary coincides with the European Union’s review of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). IATA has called on the EU to reinforce CORSIA as the global framework for international aviation, warning that extending the EU ETS to destinations within 5,000 kilometres of the EU could lead to overlapping regional carbon-pricing systems and increase compliance costs. According to IATA, the proposed expansion could increase EU ETS compliance costs by 40% to €280 billion over the 2027–2040 period.
IATA also called for aviation-generated ETS revenues to be directed towards sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, infrastructure and emerging aviation technologies. Its recommendations include strengthening the SAF allowances mechanism, removing geographic restrictions on SAF production eligible for support, and avoiding additional conditions that limit support for sustainability-compliant fuel pathways.
In its recent position paper on the EU ETS revision, CLECAT also calls for increased SAF allowances, stronger support for long-term offtake agreements and a European Book-and-Claim framework. CLECAT opposes extending the EU ETS to additional international flights, arguing that international aviation emissions should be addressed through the globally agreed CORSIA framework.
Source: IATA