AACO AGM: IATA CE urges more MENA sign-ups for CORSIA

Only 3 of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) nations have signed up for the voluntary CORSIA global aviation carbon offsetting scheme that begins in 2020, although IATA says there is no particular reason why they are holding off. The CORSIA scheme was agreed through ICAO in 2016. As part of that, all airlines must begin reporting their emissions from Jan 1, 2019. In addition, a voluntary phase starts in 2020 in which airlines of those countries that participate in that phase will begin paying their carbon offsets via the global scheme. About 75 govts, accounting for some 76% of global commercial aviation activity, have committed to this voluntary start. However, only 3 MENA govts—the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar—have committed to the voluntary part of the scheme, IATA says. <br/>