{"id":21881,"date":"2021-11-17T13:39:02","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T18:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=21881"},"modified":"2025-12-03T12:29:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T17:29:58","slug":"un-aviation-agency-sets-a-new-standard-for-sustainable-flight-by-adopting-critical-fuels-criteria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2021\/11\/17\/un-aviation-agency-sets-a-new-standard-for-sustainable-flight-by-adopting-critical-fuels-criteria\/","title":{"rendered":"UN aviation agency sets a new standard for sustainable flight by adopting critical fuels criteria"},"content":{"rendered":"

This blog post was authored by\u00a0Pedro Piris-Cabezas<\/a>, Director of Sustainable International Transport & Lead Senior Economist at Environmental Defense Fund<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As the world convened for COP 26, the\u00a0<\/span>United Nation\u2019s civil aviation body announced a major milestone<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in\u202fthe transition to sustainable flight by adopting an\u202f<\/span>expanded set of sustainability criteria<\/span><\/a>\u202ffor sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)<\/span>, available\u00a0<\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SAF\u202f\u2014 jet fuel made from renewable feedstock instead of fossil fuels \u2014\u202fprovides a distinct opportunity to put aviation on a pathway to net-zero climate impact by 2050.\u202fBut, to achieve that level of success,\u202fthe\u202fSAF\u202fthat\u202fairlines\u202fwill\u202fuse\u202fto\u202fbe eligible for\u202fICAO\u2019s emissions reduction program, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA),\u202fmust\u202fmeet a high standard of environmental\u202fintegrity, and\u202fbe\u202faccurately\u202ftracked and\u202faccounted\u202ffor.\u202fIndeed,\u202fnot all alternative fuels are equal.\u202fSome make environmental problems worse. Deploying SAF\u202fwithout\u202fa robust accounting and sustainability framework could negate the entire climate benefits and even increase emissions several-fold compared to fossil\u202fjet\u202ffuels.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After years of hesitation,\u00a0<\/span>ICAO Council Members\u00a0<\/span>finally\u00a0<\/span>seized the opportunity to set these forward-looking sustainability safeguards, ensuring\u202fthat SAF\u202feligible under CORSIA\u202flives up to its sustainability potential<\/span>, and provides certainty for SAF producers as they make investments in the sustainability of their supply chains and operations.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only\u202fis this decision\u202fa major milestone for ICAO,\u202fit\u202fis\u202falso the first time a UN body has\u202fdefined a clear standard for\u202fwhat constitutes sustainability\u202ffor a mitigation action.\u202f<\/span>ICAO<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has also operationalized it\u00a0with\u00a0a<\/span>\u202ffull-fledged monitoring, reporting and third-party verification system including a high level of assurance, which makes CORSIA the most comprehensive SAF Framework adopted to date.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ICAO\u2019s\u202fdecision also\u202fsends a clear signal to countries embarking in SAF policy: support for SAF must include robust environmental safeguards.\u00a0This is critical because\u00a0<\/span>ICAO\u2019s SAF<\/span>\u00a0framework can enable the production of truly climate beneficial SAF\u00a0<\/span>but only\u00a0<\/span>if paired with effective national policies that generate the needed economic incentives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Council\u2019s adoption of the\u202f<\/span>SAF sustainability criteria<\/span><\/a>\u202fis a turning point in the aviation sector\u2019s journey to decarbonize\u2014but it is far from its\u202ffinal destination. Now, countries, airlines, and fuel producers must take action to jump-start high-integrity SAF by shaping their national SAF policies accordingly.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

EDF, as a member of the International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation (ICSA), the group of environmental NGOs with observer status at ICAO, took a leadership role\u00a0in this important development. EDF\u00a0created\u00a0the space for this\u00a0negotiation\u00a0to take place\u00a0in ICAO\u2019s Committee for Aviation Environmental Protection\u00a0and\u00a0was granted the privilege to\u00a0co-chair the\u00a0technical negotiations on SAF sustainability matters\u00a0together\u00a0with\u00a0the International Air Transport Association\u00a0(IATA). This privileged position gave us the capacity to\u00a0thoughtfully\u00a0design the negotiations and create the\u00a0necessary\u00a0coalitions to ensure, against all odds, the sequential adoption of the sustainability criteria and framework along\u00a0ICAO\u2019s\u00a0political decision-making\u00a0process.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the\u202f<\/span><\/b>role of the SAF<\/span><\/b>\u202fsustainability criteria?\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The role of sustainability criteria is to safeguard against direct and indirect negative effects on ecosystems and communities that are not captured or are underestimated by the lifecycle assessment approach, and to promote sustainable development.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To be\u202feligible under\u202fICAO\u2019s\u202fCORSIA,\u202fSAF\u00a0needs to meet\u00a0the following overarching goals\u00a0across its supply chain:\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. R<\/span><\/b>e<\/span><\/b>duce<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>greenhouse gas\u00a0<\/span><\/b>emissions<\/span><\/b>\u00a0compared to fossil jet fuel\u00a0on a lifecycle basis<\/span><\/b>.\u202f<\/span><\/i>The criteria ensures that SAF provides meaningful emissions reductions, counted across the full lifecycle of the fuel from feedstock to flight, and including\u202fkey\u202findirect\u202fenvironmental effects\u202fsuch as\u202findirect land use change.<\/span>\u00a0The\u00a010%\u00a0minimum\u00a0emissions reduction required\u00a0by ICAO\u00a0might\u00a0appear\u00a0disappointing\u00a0at first sight, but it should be noted that\u00a0\u2013in its current shape\u2014 it\u00a0is only intended as a safeguard to ensure that any emission reduction\u00a0claim in CORSIA\u00a0is backed up with\u00a0real emissions reductions\u00a0that go\u00a0beyond the uncertainties associated to the lifecycle assessment methodology.\u00a0Independently, only SAF that delivers large emissions reductions makes sense economically and environmentally speaking, which means that SAF with large land use change emissions is tacitly disqualified\u00a0as a viable production pathway. That\u2019s the magic of assessing SAF on a lifecycle basis including indirect land use change emissions.\u00a0<\/span>
    \n<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Protect<\/span><\/b>\u00a0ecosystems and natural resources.<\/span><\/b>\u202fThe\u202frobust set of sustainability criteria\u202falso includes environmental safeguards\u202fagainst negative environmental effects that are not captured\u00a0by the lifecycle emissions assessment\u2014defending water quality, soil health, air\u202fquality<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>biodiversity<\/span>\u00a0and conservation values<\/span>.\u202f<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. P<\/span><\/b>resent\u00a0<\/span><\/b>no\u00a0<\/span><\/b>risks to human rights, food security, or local economies.\u202f<\/span><\/b>Ensuring that SAF feedstock production does not present social risks, ICAO prioritized\u202fthe inclusion of human and labor\u202frights,\u202fland use rights and water\u202fuse rights\u202ffor local\u202fand\u202findigenous communities.\u202f<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. P<\/span><\/b>romote\u202fthe achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.\u202f<\/span><\/b>As a United Nations body,\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>ICAO<\/span>\u00a0championed\u00a0these sustainability criteria aiming for\u00a0<\/span>SAF<\/span>\u00a0to<\/span>\u202fcontribute to the\u202fachievement\u202fof UN\u202fSustainable\u202fDevelopment Goals (SDGs)<\/span>, including<\/span>\u00a0eliminating poverty and promoting food security.\u202f\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What\u2019s in the\u202fSAF\u202fsustainability criteria?\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The criteria cover 12 themes that encompass the three pillars of sustainability: social, environmental, economic.\u00a0Provisions pertain to\u00a0emissions reductions, carbon hotspots,\u00a0water, soil, air, conservation, waste and chemicals, human and labor rights, land use rights and land use, water use rights, local and social development, and food security. For each theme, a principle a set of criteria are outlined. The criteria capture the binding provisions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    To be\u202feligible under\u202fICAO\u2019s\u202fCORSIA to generate emissions reductions for compliance purposes,\u202fSAF must meet the following criteria:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Theme<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriteria<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    1.\u00a0 Greenhouse Gases (GHG)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0should generate lower carbon emissions on a life cycle basis.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion 1.1<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF will\u00a0achieve net greenhouse gas emissions\u00a0reductions\u00a0of at least 10% compared to\u00a0the baseline life cycle emissions values for aviation fuel on a life cycle basis.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    2. Carbon stock<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

    		Principle<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0should not be made from biomass obtained from land with high carbon stock.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a02.1<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0will\u00a0not be made from biomass obtained from land converted after 1 January 2008 that was primary forests, wetlands, or peat lands and\/or contributors to degradation of the carbon stock in primary forests, wetlands, or peat lands as these lands all have high carbon stocks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Criterion 2.2<\/span><\/b>: In the event of land use conversion after 1 January 2008, as defined based on\u00a0the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)\u00a0land categories, direct land use charge (DLUC) emissions\u00a0will\u00a0be calculated. If DLUC greenhouse gas emissions exceed the default induced land use change (ILUC) value, the DLUC value\u00a0will\u00a0replace the default ILUC value.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    \u00a03. Water<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Production of\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0should maintain or enhance water quality and availability.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a03.1<\/span><\/b>: Operational practices\u00a0will\u00a0be implemented to maintain or enhance water quality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Criterion\u00a03.2<\/span><\/b>: Operational practices\u00a0will\u00a0be implemented to use water efficiently and to avoid the depletion of surface or groundwater resources beyond replenishment capacities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    \u00a04. Soil<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Production of CORSIA SAF\u00a0should maintain or enhance soil health.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a04.1<\/span><\/b>: Agricultural and forestry best management practices for feedstock production or residue collection\u00a0will\u00a0be implemented to maintain or enhance soil health, such as physical, chemical and biological conditions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    5. Air\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Production of CORSIA SAF\u00a0should minimize negative effects on air quality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a05.1<\/span><\/b>: Air pollution emissions\u00a0will\u00a0be limited.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    6. Conservation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Production of CORSIA SAF\u00a0should maintain or enhance biodiversity, conservation\u00a0value\u00a0and ecosystem services.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a06.1:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0will\u00a0not be made from biomass obtained from areas that, due to\u00a0their biodiversity, conservation value, or ecosystems services,\u00a0are protected\u00a0by the\u00a0State\u00a0having jurisdiction over that area, unless evidence is provided that shows the activity does not interfere with the protection purposes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Criterion\u00a06.2<\/span><\/b>: Low invasive-risk feedstock\u00a0will\u00a0be selected for cultivation and appropriate controls\u00a0will\u00a0be adopted with the intention of preventing the uncontrolled spear of cultivated non-native species and modified microorganisms.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Criterion\u00a06.3<\/span><\/b>: Operational practices\u00a0will\u00a0be implemented to avoid adverse effects\u00a0on areas that, due to their\u00a0biodiversity, conservation value, or ecosystem services, are protected by the State having jurisdiction over that area.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    7. Waste and Chemicals<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Production of CORSIA SAF\u00a0should promote responsible management of waste and use of chemicals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a07.1<\/span><\/b>: Operational practices\u00a0will\u00a0be implemented to ensure that waste arising from production processes as well as chemicals used are stored, handled and disposed of responsibly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Criterion\u00a07.2<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Responsible and science-based operational practices\u00a0will\u00a0be implemented to limit or reduce pesticide use.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    8. Human and labour rights<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>: Production\u00a0of CORSIA SAF\u00a0should respect human and labour rights.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a08.1<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0production\u00a0will\u00a0respect human and labour rights.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    9. Land use rights and land use<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>: Production of\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0should respect land rights and land use rights including indigenous and\/or customary rights.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a09.1<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0production\u00a0will\u00a0respect existing land rights and land use rights including indigenous people\u2019s rights, both formal and informal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    10. Water use rights<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Production of\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0should respect prior formal or customary water use rights.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a010.1<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0production\u00a0will\u00a0respect the existing water use rights of local and indigenous communities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    11. Local and social development<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Production of\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0should contribute to social and economic development in regions of poverty.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion\u00a011.1<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0production\u00a0will\u00a0strive to, in regions of poverty, improve the socioeconomic conditions of the communities affected by the operations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    12. Food security<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPrinciple<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0Production of\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0fuel should promote food security in food insecure regions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCriterion 1<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0CORSIA SAF\u00a0production\u00a0will, in food insecure regions, strive to enhance the local food security of directly affected stakeholders.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Figure:\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>ICAO Document CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Chapter 2. CORSIA sustainability criteria applicable for batches of CORSIA SAF produced by a certified fuel producer on or after 1 January 2024.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    How are<\/span><\/b>\u202fSAF\u202fsustainability criteria<\/span><\/b>\u00a0implemented<\/span><\/b>?\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The ICAO sustainability framework works as an umbrella standard that relies on ICAO-approved independent Sustainability Certification Schemes (SCS) for its implementation.\u00a0 These organizations define the sustainability certification requirements including the indicators and metrics to evaluate compliance with the criteria, set the requirements for certification bodies, auditors and accreditation bodies, and monitor the effectiveness of the assurance system. To become ICAO-approved SCS must undergo a thorough evaluation process and meet a comprehensive set of requirements in line with <\/span>ICAO\u2019s eligibility framework<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    In conclusion, the newly adopted sustainability criteria take a robust and equitable approach, placing environmental and social safeguards on the production of SAF across its entire supply chain. It also provides a harmonized approach to ensure that airlines across the world strive for these same values of climate ambition, environmental integrity, human rights, and social equity.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This new\u00a0<\/span>set of\u00a0<\/span>sustainability criteria<\/span>\u00a0and the broader sustainability framework<\/span>\u202f<\/span>are<\/span>\u202fdesigned to ensure the future of flight allows travelers to\u202fsee new<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>horizons,\u202fconnect\u202fwith\u202fother\u202fcultures, visit faraway loved ones and collaborate internationally\u202f\u2013\u202fwhile doing less harm to\u202four climate,\u00a0<\/span>and respecting\u00a0<\/span>our environment, and local and indigenous communities.\u202fAs more countries, airlines, and fuel producers adopt and adhere to this robust criteria, the faster we can reach\u202four destination of a\u202fnet-zero emissions flight by 2050.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This blog post was authored by\u00a0Pedro Piris-Cabezas, Director of Sustainable International Transport & Lead Senior Economist at Environmental Defense Fund As the world convened for COP 26, the\u00a0United Nation\u2019s civil aviation body announced a major milestone\u00a0in\u202fthe transition to sustainable flight by adopting an\u202fexpanded set of sustainability criteria\u202ffor sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), available\u00a0here.\u00a0 SAF\u202f\u2014 jet fuel …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40200,"featured_media":21947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4249,109,44,46599],"tags":[],"coauthors":[108159],"class_list":["post-21881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aviation","category-international","category-policy","category-united-nations"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUN aviation agency sets a new standard for sustainable flight by adopting critical fuels criteria - 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