By Marie Owens Thomsen, Senior Vice President, Sustainability & Chief Economist
As global leaders prepare to convene in Brazil for COP30, the aviation sector finds itself once again at the intersection of ambition and accountability. For the air transport industry, the conference provides a vital moment to clarify responsibilities, align policies, and reaffirm commitments to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
While domestic aviation falls under the purview of national governments as part of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the UNFCCC, international air transport has been managed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for 80 years. Since 2016, ICAO member States have implemented the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)—the first and only global agreement to address CO₂ emissions from an entire industrial sector.
CORSIA aims to stabilise international aviation’s net carbon emissions at 85% of 2019 levels. More importantly, it represents a model of fairness and collaboration, as governments have agreed that it will be the sole economic measure applied to international air transport. ICAO’s robust quality criteria ensure that CORSIA carbon credits are among the most trusted in the global carbon market.
Yet, despite its promise, CORSIA faces structural challenges. Airlines are mandated to purchase CORSIA-compliant credits, but few States have made such credits available—Guyana currently being the only one. This has created a paradoxical shortage in the market. “It is both exasperating and disappointing that many States are proposing measures that undermine CORSIA,” notes Thomsen, referring to the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force and the EU’s attempts to extend its emissions trading scheme beyond its borders. Such actions, she warns, contradict earlier commitments made at ICAO to maintain CORSIA as the sole mechanism for managing international aviation’s carbon costs.
The Role of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
While offsetting remains a key tool, the most significant pathway to decarbonisation lies in the widespread adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). At present, SAF production covers less than 1% of global aviation’s energy needs, largely because fossil fuels continue to benefit from more favourable investment incentives.
“SAF is the game changer for decarbonising aviation,” Thomsen emphasises. “Governments must create clear, long-term incentives that make SAF production and investment economically attractive—not just for aviation, but for all renewable fuel users.”
A Unified Message: Clarity
The message emerging from both SAF and CORSIA experiences is straightforward: clarity. Policymakers must provide consistent, transparent, and long-term frameworks that enable investment, align national and international goals, and avoid duplicative taxes or conflicting regulations.
At the recent ICAO Assembly, governments reiterated their support for this principle. Over the next three years—leading to the next ICAO Assembly—those assurances must be reflected in tangible policies that drive real progress.
#FlyNetZero and Beyond
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and its members remain committed to achieving net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050 under the #FlyNetZero initiative. Beyond carbon, the industry continues to address non-CO₂ emissions, reduce noise, and manage waste responsibly, supported by IATA programmes that promote sustainable practices and innovation across the sector.
As COP30 unfolds, the aviation industry calls on governments to ensure clarity—clarity that fosters confidence, attracts investment, and accelerates the transition toward a sustainable future for global air transport.
SOURCE: IATA IMAGE: PEXELS
