The member states of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a United Nations (UN) agency, have agreed to the agency’s carbon offset and reduction scheme for international aviation (CORSIA), with an aim of curbing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the aviation sector.

The new global market-based measure (GMBM) was passed during the 39th assembly of the ICAO in Montreal, Canada.

Designed to complement the existing CO2 emission measures already taken up by the air transport community, the GMBM seeks to produce and use better sustainable alternative fuels for aviation.

"We now have practical agreement and consensus on this issue backed by a large number of states."

It also includes technical and operational improvements in the sector.

International Civil Aviation Organisation council president Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said: “It has taken a great deal of effort and understanding to reach this stage, and I want to applaud the spirit of consensus and compromise demonstrated by our member states, industry and civil society.

“We now have practical agreement and consensus on this issue backed by a large number of states who will voluntarily participate in the GMBM, and from its outset.

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“This will permit the CORSIA to serve as a positive and sustainable contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions reduction.”

The majority of ICAO member states will voluntarily implement CORSIA on a pilot basis from 2021 through 2023.

The pilot phase will be followed by a first phase, staring in 2024 and lasting until 2026.

After completing these two voluntary participation phases, all the member states have agreed to implement the next phase of CORSIA, from 2027 to 2035.

IACO said that the states handling more than 83% of international flight operations have already volunteered to take part in the GMBM from its earliest stages, commencing from 2021.

Image: ICAO finalises global aviation emission control deal. Photo: International Civil Aviation Organisation.