ICAO warns EU aviation carbon trading expansion could undermine global CORSIA framework

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has pushed back against the European Union's plan to expand its carbon trading system for airlines starting in 2029. ICAO argues the proposal would clash with its own Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme (CORSIA) and could force carriers to pay twice for the same emissions. The UN agency called on nations to stick with the unified framework, warning that go-it-alone approaches risk slowing progress toward carbon neutral flying by 2050. The dispute highlights a growing tension between regional climate action and global coordination. While the EU sees its emissions trading system as a way to accelerate decarbonization, ICAO insists CORSIA is the only globally harmonized measure for aviation CO2. The outcome could set a precedent for how other sectors balance local carbon pricing with international agreements.