Airlines set to receive first carbon offsetting requirements under ICAO’s global climate agreement

Governments will soon inform airlines of their first ever requirements under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), following ICAO’s publication of a new calculation announced today. 

Carbon neutral growth is the primary objective of CORSIA and as of today, it is resulting in specific, actionable obligations for airlines. 

ICAO has calculated the growth of international aviation for 2024, enabling governments to determine the amount of CO₂ that each airline needs to offset to ensure that this growth is carbon neutral. This is done in compliance with the relevant requirements of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Convention). 

Transparency is central to the CORSIA approach. In accordance with the relevant Standards and Recommended Practices of the Convention, data covering 99% of CO₂ emissions in 2024 was submitted to ICAO by 128 States, with ICAO following an agreed process to estimate the emissions of a further ten States who did not provide their data. The data for these 138 States was used to calculate the global growth of international civil aviation. By applying the value* released today to emissions data submitted by each airline, governments can calculate the amount of CO₂ each airline needs to offset. 

Information on emissions and other data submitted by Member States through the CORSIA Central Registry (CCR) is published on the ICAO website, along with comprehensive CORSIA documentation. This open sharing of data supports accountability and offers all stakeholders a clear view of collective progress for the robust implementation of the scheme. 

ICAO and its Member States will continue to provide regulatory frameworks, capacity-building, and technical support to ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement of the scheme. 

Source: ICAO