Airline association IATA is creating a new organisation to manage its SAF Registry, which aims to offer a “standardised and transparent way” to account for the use of alternative aviation fuels.
IATA said that the establishment of the Civil Aviation Decarbonisation Organisation (CADO) would “turbo-charge the imminent launch” of the SAF Registry, which will track the emissions reductions from the use of what the airline industry calls “sustainable” aviation fuel (SAF).
Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, added: “The SAF Registry is a critical piece of market infrastructure that is indispensable in building a global, transparent and liquid global market for SAF.
“The industry’s commitment to build the registry and establish CADO to manage it should inspire governments, fossil fuel producers and investors to engage in the SAF market with commensurate vigour.”
Walsh said that “ramping up” the production of alternative fuels was the “common goal” and the formation of CADO was “an important step in moving decarbonisation forward”.
One of the key roles of the registry will be to allow airlines and corporate customers to track the environmental benefits of using alternative fuels. This will enable them to claim emission reductions “against regulatory obligations and voluntary schemes”, including Scope 3 emissions from business travel.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s senior vice president sustainability and chief economist, added that CADO would be a “separate entity from IATA with an open and global approach that supports the scrutiny needed to build trust among all stakeholders”.
“In fact, the door is open for any stakeholder in the SAF value chain, including governments, to join CADO. This inclusive approach should also be a force for the harmonisation of the principles on which all SAF registries operate,” said Thomsen.After launch, participation in the SAF Registry will initially be free until April 2027, after which IATA said it would be operated on a “cost recovery basis”.
IATA last week announced an enhancement to its CO2 Connect emissions calculator to account for the increased use of alternative aviation fuels by carriers.
Source : BTN Europe
