How to improve the global 'Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation' (CORSIA)?

Abstract

This paper investigates CORSIA’s environmental benefits as well as options for improving the scheme’s environmental impact. Based on our emission modelling results for the global airline schedules, recommendations for technical experts and policymakers are provided. Our results indicate that an effective option for improving the scope of CORSIA would be a voluntary inclusion of domestic CO2 emissions of the ten largest domestic aviation markets (USA, China, Japan, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Russia, Australia and Canada, as well as the EU,). Domestic flights are those within a country including overseas territories, if applicable. This way, in the long run, an additional 50% of CO2 p.a. could be compensated, without significant added bureaucracy for most airlines, and CORSIA’s environmental performance would be improved massively. This approach could be realized relatively easily since the decision on a voluntary inclusion of domestic aviation in CORSIA is at the sovereignty of each state.