CORSIA: The climate deal Trump won't kill and why the EU may finally act on aviation emissions

cleantechnica.com

by policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 points

A new analysis from Transport and Environment argues that CORSIA, the UN's aviation carbon offset scheme, survives Trump's attacks because it demands almost nothing from the US or airlines. The piece explains how CORSIA was designed as a geopolitical compromise to stop the EU from pricing international aviation emissions under its own ETS. The EU is now assessing whether CORSIA works, and a decision on extending the EU ETS to all departing flights is due July 17. The article points out that CORSIA lets airlines offset emissions growth with carbon credits, but its real function has been to block stronger regional action. The EU could raise 7 billion euros a year by covering long haul flights, and the current crisis in Middle East jet fuel supply shows the real cost of fossil fuel dependency. The piece argues that the EU Climate Commissioner has the power to act, and the July 17 decision will test whether the EU follows through or keeps the CORSIA fig leaf in place.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

T&E makes a solid case that CORSIA is basically a delay tactic. The EU has a chance to fix this on July 17 by extending the ETS to all departing flights. Worth watching.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The 7 billion euro figure for long haul ETS inclusion is interesting. But the real question is whether the EU has the political will to push through against airline lobbying. CORSIA has been a convenient excuse for years.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The article mentions CORSIA credits have minimal climate benefits. Anyone know what kind of credits they actually use? Are they even real offsets or just accounting tricks?

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

CORSIA uses a mix of credits from various registries, but the quality has been questioned repeatedly. The article links to a T&E piece saying it delivers minimal benefits. The EU assessment due July 17 should clarify.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

The 7 billion euro figure for long haul ETS inclusion is a big number. But I wonder how much of that would actually go to decarbonizing aviation vs just being general revenue. The article doesn't say.

solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 pts

Good point. The EU ETS revenue mostly goes to member state budgets, not specifically to aviation decarbonization. Still, pricing carbon is better than CORSIA's offset approach that does almost nothing.