Environmental updates in the Asia-Pacific Region

CORSIA is the first global market-based scheme that applies to a sector. It complements other aviation in-sector emissions reduction efforts such as technological innovations, operational improvements and sustainable aviation fuels to meet the ICAO aspirational goal of carbon-neutral growth.

The more States join CORSIA, the more emissions are covered by the offsetting requirements of the scheme and the higher its environmental effectiveness becomes. Each participating State brings ICAO closer to meeting its global aspirational goal of carbon-neutral growth. Suppose a State does not have an operator attributed to it (and therefore does not incur compliance costs). In that case, participation in the scheme will still add routes operated by foreign operators between the State and other participating States and therefore increase the overall emissions coverage of CORSIA. For States interested in eco-tourism, participation in CORSIA provides the additional benefit of greening air transport connections to the rest of the world.

On 30 June 2022 ICAO’s Asia and Pacific (APAC) Office hosted aWebinar on the Implementation of CORSIA. The webinar was attended by 124 participants from 23 APAC States and the aviation industry. Participants were provided with the latest information on implementation elements of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), including CORSIA monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), CORSIA offsetting requirements, and the reporting of data to ICAO through the CORSIA Central Registry (CCR). In addition, the webinar provided an opportunity for ICAO to assist and encourage participants to prepare their 2021 CO2 emissions submissions to ICAO, which are due by 31 July 2022.

In total, twenty-three (23) APAC States have notified ICAO of their intention to participate in the voluntary phases of CORSIA, including the following twelve (12) States from 1 January 2021: Afghanistan, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand; seven (7) States from 1 January 2022: Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; and four (4) States (so far) from 1 January 2023: Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Maldives and Timor-Leste.

ICAO established the Assistance, Capacity-building and Training program known as ACT-CORSIA to support States in implementing CORSIA. ACT-CORSIA includes activities such as webinars, Buddy Partnerships (which to date have involved 27 APAC States), and increasing ICAO’s outreach to APAC States.

ICAO Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (ACT-SAF) programme

ICAO launched the Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (ACT-SAF) Programme on 1 June 2022 to provide opportunities for States to develop their full potential in SAF development and deployment. ACT-SAF is in line with the ICAO’s No Country Left Behind initiative, the 2050 ICAO Vision for SAF, and the three main pillars of sustainable development recognized by the United Nations (economic, social and environmental sustainability).

The ACT-SAF Programme will assist States in developing and deploying SAF and cleaner energy sources for aviation through a tailored assistance approach. ACT-SAF may include feasibility studies, policy and regulatory development, and specific SAF implementation projects, where potential green funding may be sought.

Under the umbrella of ICAO, ACT-SAF will facilitate partnerships among States and relevant stakeholders, emphasizing promoting SAF together and where all stakeholders collaborate to advance ACT-SAF efforts.

Given the unequivocal importance of SAF development, all APAC States are invited to consider their interest and how best to engage in the ICAO ACT-SAF programme (i.e. as a Requesting State or as a Supporting State/Institution) and to communicate their interest to ICAO.