Global groundings cast doubt on timeline for aviation’s CO2 offset scheme

The timeline for the implementation of ICAO’s global carbon offsetting scheme for commercial aviation is one of the myriad issues affected by the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. The implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) involves using airline CO2 emissions data from 2020, in combination with that from 2019, to create a baseline average on which future offsetting would be based. In any year from 2021 when international commercial aviation CO2 emissions covered by the scheme exceed the average baseline emissions of 2019 and 2020, this difference represents the sector’s offsetting requirements for that year. The use of 2 years’ data was meant to ensure unexpected disruption did not skew the figures. <br/>