ICAO expands approved emissions unit programmes for effective CORSIA implementation

Adopted by the ICAO Assembly in 2016, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is the only global market-based measure designed specifically to address CO₂ emissions from international aviation. Ensuring that operators have timely and reliable access to CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (CEEU) to meet their offsetting requirements is key to CORSIA’s effective operation. To support this: 

• A total of eight emissions unit programmes have been approved by ICAO to supply eligible CEEU for CORSIA's first phase (2024-2026): American Carbon Registry, Architecture for REDD+ Transactions, Climate Action Reserve, Global Carbon Council, Gold Standard, Isometric, Premium Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction Program, and Verified Carbon Standard. 

• Four additional programmes have now been approved by ICAO for the second phase (2027–2029): American Carbon Registry, Architecture for REDD+ Transactions, Gold Standard, and Verified Carbon Standard. 

Information on the ICAO-approved programmes and their scope of eligibility is available here: CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units. 

Governments are encouraged to issue a Letter of Authorization confirming that carbon credits to be used by airlines under CORSIA are not counted toward Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. More information can be found here: Article 6.2: Voluntary standardized template for the authorization of the use of the international.

Additional programmes are expected to apply in early 2026, and further applications will be considered by the ICAO Council on an ongoing basis.

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