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News: India is expected to mandate 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending for international flights from 2027 under CORSIA.
About Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)
- CORSIA is a global market-based mechanism to reduce carbon emissions from international flights.
- It is the first global market-based measure for any sector and represents a cooperative approach.
- Adopted in: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted CORSIA in 2016.
- Aim: It aims to stabilize net carbon emissions from international flights at 2020 levels.
- It requires airlines to offset eligible emission growth through carbon credits or eligible fuels.
- Phased Implementation Timeline
- Pilot Phase (2021–2023): It was voluntary for participating states.
- First Phase (2024–2026): It continues on a voluntary basis.
- Second Phase (2027–2035): It becomes mandatory for ICAO member states, subject to exemptions.
- India has decided not to participate in the voluntary phases of CORSIA.
- Key Features
- Emission Offsetting: Airlines purchase eligible carbon credits to compensate for emissions above the established baseline of 85% of 2019 emission levels.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Airlines must monitor, report and verify their international flight emissions.
- Applicability: CORSIA applies only to international flights between participating states.
- Environmental Integrity: The ICAO Council approves eligible emission unit programmes to ensure credible carbon offsets.
- Financial Responsibility: Individual airlines bear offsetting costs based on their international operations.
About International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
- It was established in 1944 under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention.
- Aim: It aims to develop safe and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes.
- Member Countries: It has 193 Member States.
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- Functions: It provides expert technical and diplomatic guidance to build safe, secure, sustainable, harmonized, and gender-inclusive international civil aviation, and supports standards, policies, and regulation.
- Governance
- ICAO Assembly:
- It is a sovereign body of all 193 member States.
- It meets every three years,
- It reviews the work of ICAO, sets policy for the coming years, and votes a triennial budget.
- ICAO Council: ICAO Assembly elects a 36-member Council for a three-year term.
- It gives continuing direction to ICAO’s work and adopts Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as Annexes to the Chicago Convention.
- Secretariat: It is headed by a Secretary General.
- Standards: ICAO Standards do not prevent States from adopting more stringent national standards than those in an Annex.
- ICAO Assembly:
ICAO and India
- India is a founding member of ICAO since 1944.
- It has been re-elected to Part II of the ICAO Council (States contributing most to international air navigation facilities) for the 2025–2028 term.
