The success of the global aviation carbon offsetting scheme hinges on govts stepping up to the challenge, said International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Willie Walsh on Wednesday.
As airlines brace for the mandatory offsetting of a portion of international flight emissions from Jan 2027, the big question is whether govts will be able to provide enough carbon credits for airlines to purchase and offset the emissions. Offsetting will put a financial burden on airlines, including those from India. However, the current problem for the airline industry is the dearth of purchase options.
“If CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) doesn’t work the way it should, it won’t be because of a lack of action on the part of airlines; it will be because of a lack of action on the part of govts to make credits available,” said Walsh.
“We’ve been talking to govts and we have realised that many of them do not understand their obligation under the ICAO-CORSIA agreement to make eligible units available to us. (ICAO stands for International Civil Aviation Organization.) We’re seeing more and more countries now acknowledge that there is a need to play their part, but also acknowledge that this is an opportunity. There are some credits available, but the volume that is required is going to ramp up significantly. We’ve highlighted this to ICAO. Our obligation is to buy and redeem carbon credits; their obligation is to make it available. We can’t fulfil our obligation on this if govts in the first place don’t fulfil theirs,” he said.
While Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production will double to 2 million tons in 2025, it will only meet 0.7 per cent of airline fuel needs, said IATA.
“CORSIA must be successful. It is a credible and verifiable system that requires carbon credits of only the highest standard, making its positive impact on climate unquestionable. But, more govts need to join Guyana, which, to date, is the only state to certify credits for airlines to purchase,” said Walsh.
“These actions must be accompanied by ringing the alarm bells on SAF production. We need more effective leadership. For govts, that means delivering policy actions and certainty, preferably production incentives, that have a track record of success. Meanwhile, companies that can produce SAF must stop procrastinating and get to work at ramping up production capacity.”
