A group led by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued an urgent appeal to the 42nd ICAO Assembly, calling on governments to move swiftly in issuing Letters of Authorization (LoAs) needed under the Paris Agreement to unlock the full supply of CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs).
Such steps are essential both for the environmental credibility of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and for the creation of a viable market for these emissions units, according to a joint statement by IATA and a number of other relevant stakeholders.
The industry projects demand for CORSIA EEUs in the first compliance period (2024-2026) to fall between 146 million and 236 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
Yet so far, only one tranche of EEUs has been issued—credits from a Guyana‑based project under the ART‑TREES program, in February 2024—proof that the framework can function when host countries act.
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According to IATA, validated programs are already in place and meet the technical requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): independent validation, sustainability verification, registry capacity, tagging and national attestation features are operating.
What remains is the political decision by host countries to issue LoAs, which formally allow credits to enter registry systems as CORSIA‑eligible.
The urgency is increasing with the mandatory phase of CORSIA set to begin in 2027, a period during which the scheme is expected to cover more than 85% of international aviation emissions.
Without LoAs issued promptly, IATA and the other signatories warn, the gap between demand and supply of EEUs will widen.
LoAs are more than a bureaucratic detail: they ensure environmental integrity, prevent double counting, and provide legal certainty.
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Host countries are urged to adopt transparent, predictable authorization procedures, avoid retroactive revocations or modifications of LoAs, and make corresponding adjustments under the Paris Agreement.
“IATA and the signatories to this statement reaffirm our commitment to supporting States in this effort,” the document concludes.
The support would include technical guidance, registry infrastructure, assistance to national focal points, and cooperation to safeguard credit quality.
Apart from IATA, the signatories include other aviation industry associations and carbon market stakeholders, including IETA (International Emissions Trading Association), the Global Carbon Council, and a number of project developers.
