Climeworks Solutions and Japan Airlines (JAL) have announced the world’s first CORSIA-compliant carbon removal agreement.
With this historic move, the two companies are setting an important precedent for the aviation industry and are supporting the broader integration of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) into compliance markets.
The credits secured under this milestone agreement are aligned with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). This deal helps establish a new market that will serve as a valuable tool in addressing emissions from the aviation industry.
”As the first airline to secure CORSIA-compliant carbon removals, we are proud to lead the industry toward net-zero emissions,” said Noriko Ogawa, Executive Officer and Chairperson, Sustainability Promotion Committee, Japan Airlines.
“This agreement demonstrates how carbon removal is increasingly moving from voluntary climate action into compliance markets,” said Adrian Siegrist, Chief Commercial Officer at Climeworks.
According to research by Climeworks Solutions and JAL, this agreement represents the first-ever purchase agreement for CDR credits designed to meet CORSIA requirements.
Under the partnership, Climeworks Solutions has put together a portfolio that contains different CDR pathways selected to fulfill all requirements for ICAO CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs). The selection includes approaches such as biochar and soil carbon sequestration.
Besides these CORSIA-aligned credits, Japan Airlines will also purchase Climeworks direct air capture (DAC) credits, reflecting its commitment to supporting both high-quality removals available today and the long-term development of engineered CDR solutions.
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The importance of the Climeworks Solutions – Japan Airlines agreement
For the airline company, this agreement complements its broader sustainability efforts, including aircraft renewal, operational innovations, and the use of sustainable aviation fuel.
Japan Airlines has also been an early supporter of CORSIA, becoming one of the first airlines to retire large-scale CORSIA-eligible credits.
As aviation companies craft strategies towards net-zero emissions, carbon removals are expected to become a key approach for addressing residual emissions that cannot be eliminated through reductions alone.
By signing this agreement with Climeworks Solutions, JAL is helping explore how high-integrity removals and technologies such as DAC can fit into aviation sustainability plans.
Read more: Japanese Airlines Mark First Public Carbon Credit Use Under CORSIA
