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ICAO invites applications from emissions unit programmes for CORSIA eligibility assessment

02/05/2019



ICAO has opened applications from emissions unit programmes for assessment by its Technical Advisory Body (TAB) under the CORSIA carbon offsetting scheme for international aviation. Applications have to be completed and submitted to the ICAO Secretariat by 12 July 2019 after when the TAB will conduct an initial screening of programme applications. ICAO intends publishing applications on its website during August or September and then commence a 30-day public comment period. In August, the TAB is due to start its assessment of applied-for programmes against the adopted emissions unit criteria, with the aim of making recommendations to the ICAO Council for decision-making on eligible units by February 2020. A second application period is foreseen to begin in 2020.
 
Applications submitted by programmes will serve as a primary basis for assessment and applicants are advised by the ICAO Secretariat that they may be subject to further clarification questions and possible in-person interview. Unless designated as business confidential, the submitted information will be publicly available, with comments invited regarding their consistency with the emissions unit criteria (EUC).
 
ICAO has posted the application form on its CORSIA website along with full guidance on the EUC, as well as the terms of reference (TOR) under which the TAB will operate, its work programme and timeline, plus the list of the 19 members of the TAB. The TAB’s final recommendations to the Council on eligible unit programmes, and potentially project types, including the underlining decisions, are to be taken by consensus. If there is no consensus, according to the TOR, “then the prevailing and alternative conclusions will be described and substantiated, and presented to the Council for decision.” Meetings will only be open to TAB members, with support from the Secretariat.
 
Eligible programmes must address the following design elements:
  1. Clear methodologies and protocols, and their development process;
  2. Scope considerations;
  3. Offset credit issuance and retirement procedures;
  4. Identification and tracking;
  5. Legal nature and transfer of units;
  6. Validation and verification procedures;
  7. Programme governance;
  8. Transparency and public participation provisions;
  9. Safeguards system;
  10. Sustainable development criteria; and
  11. Avoidance of double counting, issuance and claiming.
 
Offset credit programmes are required to deliver credits that represent emissions reductions, avoidance or sequestration that:
  1. Are additional;
  2. Are based on a realistic and credible baseline;
  3. Are quantified, monitored, reported and verified;
  4. Have a clear and transparent chain of custody;
  5. Represent permanent emissions reductions;
  6. Assess and mitigate against potential increase in emissions elsewhere;
  7. Are only counted once towards a mitigation obligation; and
  8. Do no net harm.

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