DGCA wants carriers to check carbon emissions from Jan 1

DGCA wants carriers to check carbon emissions from Jan 1

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1.  As per the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the air transport industry contributes 2% of global carbon emissions.

Like ICAO adopted CORSIA, India’s Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued guidelines for aeroplane operators flying on international routes.

Important Facts:

DGCA said all operators flying on international routes have to capture their fuel consumption and carbon emission data annually from January 1, 2019. 

3. From 2021, the operators will have to meet offsetting requirements by purchasing and cancelling “emission units”.

About CORSIA

5. Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), is an emission mitigation approach for the global airline industry, developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
6. CORSIA addresses emissions from international air travel.
7. The CORSIA is part of an effort from the ICAO to halve carbon emissions by 2050, compared with 2005 levels.
8. CORSIA aims to address any annual increase in total carbon dioxide emissions from international civil aviation in order to avoid the impact of any unusual fluctuations in air traffic in 2020 levels.
9. CORSIA scheme is divided into two parts —

• Monitoring, reporting & verification- Under this, carriers will have to record fuel use on each international flight and calculate carbon dioxide emissions according to the prescribed formula. Then they will have to report the emission information to the DGCA and ICAO.
• Under offsetting requirements- ICAO has said that the price of the emission units in the carbon market will be determined on the basis of availability of units and the level of offsetting requirements.

11. CORSIA is only a part of aviation industry’s four-pillar strategy to address the sector’s impact on climate and to meet the carbon targets.
12. Other measures include adoption of new technology, including deployment of sustainable alternative fuels, more efficient aircraft operations, and infrastructure improvements including modernised air traffic management systems.