Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

Context

With CORSIA’s mandatory phase beginning in 2027, India is yet to finalise its comprehensive Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) policy to support compliance with international aviation emission-reduction requirements.

About CORSIA

1. Origin & Mandate: Introduced in 2016 by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)—a UN specialized agency—as a market-based measure to achieve carbon-neutral growth in international civil aviation.
2. Scope & Coverage: Applies strictly to international flights between participating states; domestic flights are excluded (covered under NDCs under the Paris Agreement).
3. MRV System: Mandates Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of annual CO₂ emissions for covered aircraft operators.
4. Carbon Offsetting Mechanism: Airlines offset excess emissions by purchasing CORSIA-eligible carbon credits (1 unit = 1 tonne CO₂-equivalent) or using SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel).
5. Phased Implementation & Baseline Rules:

• Pilot Phase (2021–2023): Voluntary participation; baseline set at 2019 emission levels.
• First Phase (2024–2026): Voluntary participation; baseline tightened to 85% of 2019 emission levels.
• Second Phase (2027–2035): Mandatory participation for eligible ICAO states; baseline remains 85% of 2019 emission levels.

6. Mandatory Phase Exemptions: Excludes LDCs (Least Developed Countries), SIDS (Small Island Developing States), LLDCs (Landlocked Developing Countries), and states with minimal international aviation activity, unless participating voluntarily.
7. Compliance & Offsetting Cycle: Airlines submit annual emissions reports and surrender eligible emissions units (carbon credits) at the end of each 3-year compliance block.

Environmental Integrity under CORSIA

1. ICAO-Approved Emissions Units: Airlines can only purchase carbon credits issued by ICAO-approved standards (e.g., Gold Standard, Verra) that meet strict quality criteria.
2. Eligible Project Types: Covers verifiable emission-reduction projects like renewable energy, forestry, methane capture, and clean cooking
3. CORSIA Eligible Fuels (CEF): Certified Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) directly reduces an airline’s net emissions, lowering its required carbon offsetting footprint.
4. Avoiding Double Counting: Mandates Corresponding Adjustments (CA) under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to prevent host nations and airlines from claiming the same carbon reduction.

India and CORSIA: Latest Developments

1. Phased SAF Blending Mandates: Ministry of Civil Aviation set indicative Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending targets with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for international flights: 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030.
2. Regulatory Order Amendment: Amended the ATF (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to cover SAF-blended fuel and refinery co-processed synthetic hydrocarbons.
3. Key Implementation Bottlenecks: Scalability is constrained by feedstock supply gaps (used cooking oil, agricultural residue), high production costs, and specialized distribution infrastructure.
4. Pioneering Production Certification: IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Limited) Panipat Refinery received India’s first ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) CORSIA certification for SAF production from used cooking oil.

Key Facts about ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)

1. Establishment & Legal Basis: Founded in 1944 under the Chicago Convention (Convention on International Civil Aviation); entered into force in 1947.
2. Institutional Status: Specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
3. Membership & India’s Status: Comprises 193 Member States. India is a Founding Member, having signed the 1944 Chicago Convention and ratified it on March 1, 1947.
4. Governance Architecture:

• ICAO Assembly: Supreme decision-making body of all 193 member states; meets triennially (every 3 years) to set global policies and budgets.
• ICAO Council: Permanent 36-member executive body elected by the Assembly for a 3-year term to adopt binding technical standards.

5. Key Functions:

• Standard-Setting: Formulates SARPs (Standards and Recommended Practices) across 19 Annexes of the Chicago Convention covering aviation safety, security, facilitation, and environmental protection.
• Multilateral Cooperation: Functions as the global clearinghouse for inter-state policy coordination and dispute resolution among member states.
• Market & Legal Harmonization: Drafts international air law frameworks and promotes bilateral/multilateral agreements to liberalize aviation markets safely.

FAQs

Q1. What is CORSIA?

Ans. CORSIA is an ICAO-led mechanism to offset the growth of CO₂ emissions from international aviation.

Q2. Does CORSIA cover domestic flights?

Ans. No, CORSIA applies to eligible international flights, not domestic flights.

Q3. What are India’s SAF blending targets?

Ans. India has announced indicative SAF blending targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030 for international flights.

Q4. Where is ICAO headquartered?

Ans. ICAO, a UN specialised agency, is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.