November 2022
This ICAO document is referenced in Annex 16 — Environmental Protection, Volume IV — Carbon
Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). This ICAO document is material
approved by the ICAO Council for publication by ICAO to support Annex 16, Volume IV and is essential
for the implementation of the CORSIA. This ICAO document is available on the ICAO CORSIA website
and may only be amended by the Council.
Table A shows the origin of amendments to this ICAO document over time, together with a list of the
principal subjects involved and the dates on which the amendments were approved by the Council.
Table A. Amendments to the ICAO document “CORSIA Sustainability Criteria For CORSIA Eligible
Fuels”
Amendment
Source(s)
Subject(s)
Approved
1st Edition
Eleventh Meeting of the
Committee on Aviation
Environmental Protection
First edition of the document, which applies until December 31st,
2023 (end of the CORSIA pilot phase).
7 Jun 2019
2nd Edition
2019 Steering Group
meeting of the
Committee on Aviation
Environmental Protection
Inclusion of Sustainability Criteria applicable for batches of
CORSIA Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced by a
certified fuel producer on or after 1 January 2024
10 November 2021
3
rd
Edition
Twelfth Meeting of the
Committee on Aviation
Environmental Protection
• Inclusion of Sustainability Criteria applicable for
batches of CORSIA Lower Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF)
produced by a certified fuel producer on or after 1 January
2024
• Inclusion of new Sustainability Theme on
“Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Permanence”
applicable for batches of CORSIA Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(SAF) produced by a certified fuel producer on or after 1
January 2024
• Inclusion of editorial amendments
28 November 2022
ICAO document — CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels
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CORSIA SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA FOR CORSIA ELIGIBLE FUELS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: CORSIA SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA APPLICABLE FOR BATCHES OF CORSIA
ELIGIBLE FUEL PRODUCED BY A CERTIFIED FUEL PRODUCER BEFORE 1 JANUARY 2024 ....
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...- 2 -
Chapter 2: CORSIA SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA APPLICABLE FOR BATCHES OF CORSIA
SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL PRODUCED BY A CERTIFIED FUEL PRODUCER ON OR
AFTER 1 JANUARY 2024 ..................................................................................................................... - 3 -
Chapter 3: CORSIA SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA APPLICABLE FOR BATCHES OF CORSIA
LOWER CARBON AVIATION FUEL PRODUCED BY A CERTIFIED FUEL PRODUCER ON OR
AFTER 1 JANUARY 2024 ..................................................................................................................... - 7 -
ICAO document — CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels
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Chapter 1: CORSIA SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA APPLICABLE FOR BATCHES OF
CORSIA ELIGIBLE FUEL PRODUCED BY A CERTIFIED FUEL PRODUCER BEFORE 1
JANUARY 2024
Theme
Criteria
1.
Greenhouse
Gases
(GHG)
Criterion 1.1: CORSIA eligible fuel will achieve net
greenhouse gas emissions reductions of at least 10%
compared to the baseline life cycle emissions values for
aviation fuel on a life cycle basis.
2. Carbon
stock
Criterion 2.1: CORSIA eligible fuel will not be made from
biomass that is either obtained from land converted after
1 January 2008 that was primary forest, wetlands, or peat
lands or contributes to degradation of the carbon stock in
primary forests, wetlands, or peat lands as these lands all
have high carbon stocks.
Criterion 2.2: In the event of land use conversion after
1 January 2008, as defined based on the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) land categories, direct
land use change (DLUC) emissions will be calculated. If
DLUC greenhouse gas emissions exceed the default
induced land use change (ILUC) value, the DLUC value
will replace the default ILUC value.
Guidance on the application of sustainability criteria
a) Compliance with Themes 1 and 2 is granted on the basis of independent attestation by
Sustainability Certification Schemes included in the ICAO document “CORSIA Approved
Sustainability Certification Schemes” which is available on the ICAO CORSIA website.
b) A fuel producer can produce batches of CORSIA eligible fuels for 365 calendar days after it has
been certified by an SCS for compliance with the CORSIA Sustainability Criteria, after which the
fuel producer shall be re-certified for compliance with the sustainability criteria applicable at the
time of re-certification.
c) CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels does not set a precedent for, or
prejudge the outcome of negotiations in other fora.
Guidance on the application of sustainability criteria for CORSIA Lower Carbon Aviation
Fuel (LCAF)
Compliance with Criterion 1.1 will be based on the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions after LCAF
technologies and methane management practices are introduced, as certified by an SCS, following the
methods to calculate L
LCAF
, the life cycle emissions value for LCAF for purpose of assessing eligibility,
as provided in Section 7 of the ICAO document “CORSIA Methodology for Calculating Actual Life
Cycle Emissions Values”.
ICAO document — CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels
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Chapter 2: CORSIA SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA APPLICABLE FOR BATCHES OF
CORSIA SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL PRODUCED BY A CERTIFIED FUEL
PRODUCER ON OR AFTER 1 JANUARY 2024
Theme
Principle
Criteria
1. Greenhouse
Gases (GHG)
Principle: CORSIA SAF
should generate lower carbon
emissions on a life cycle basis.
Criterion 1.1: CORSIA SAF will achieve net
greenhouse gas emissions reductions of at least
10% compared to the baseline life cycle
emissions values for aviation fuel on a life
cycle basis.
2. Carbon stock
Principle: CORSIA SAF
should not be made from
biomass obtained from
land/aquatic systems with high
biogenic carbon stock.
Criterion 2.1: CORSIA SAF will not be made
from biomass that is either obtained/extracted
from land or aquatic ecosystems converted
after 1 January 2008 that was primary forest,
wetlands, peat lands, coral reefs, kelp forests,
seagrass meadows, estuaries, tidal salt marshes
or mangrove forests or contributes to
degradation of the carbon stock in primary
forests, wetlands, peat lands, coral reefs, kelp
forests, seagrass meadows, estuaries, tidal salt
marshes or mangrove forests as these systems
all have high carbon stocks.
Criterion 2.2: In the event of land use
conversion after 1 January 2008, as defined
based on the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) land categories, direct
land use change (DLUC) emissions will be
calculated. If DLUC greenhouse gas emissions
exceed the default induced land use change
(ILUC) value, the DLUC value will replace the
default ILUC value.
3. Greenhouse gas
Emissions
Reduction
Permanence
Principle: Emissions
reductions attributed to
CORSIA SAF should be
permanent.
Criterion 3.1: Operational practices will be
implemented to monitor, mitigate and
compensate any material incidence of non-
permanence resulting from carbon capture and
sequestration (CCS) activities.
4. Water
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should maintain
or enhance water quality and
availability.
Criterion 4.1: Operational practices will be
implemented to maintain or enhance water
quality.
Criterion 4.2: Operational practices will be
implemented to use water efficiently and to
avoid the depletion of surface or groundwater
resources beyond replenishment capacities.
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5. Soil
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should maintain
or enhance soil health.
Criterion 5.1: Agricultural and forestry best
management practices for feedstock
production or residue collection will be
implemented to maintain or enhance soil
health, such as physical, chemical and
biological conditions.
6. Air
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should
minimize negative effects on
air quality.
Criterion 6.1: Air pollution emissions will be
limited.
7. Conservation
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should maintain
biodiversity, conservation
value, and ecosystem services.
Criterion 7.1: CORSIA SAF will not be made
from biomass obtained from areas that, due to
their biodiversity, conservation value, or
ecosystem services, are protected by the State
having jurisdiction over that area, unless
evidence is provided that shows the activity
does not interfere with the protection purposes.
Criterion 7.2: Low invasive-risk feedstock will
be selected for cultivation and appropriate
controls will be adopted with the intention of
preventing the uncontrolled spread of
cultivated alien species and modified
microorganisms
Criterion 7.3: Operational practices will be
implemented to avoid adverse effects on areas
that, due their biodiversity, conservation value,
or ecosystem services, are protected by the
State having jurisdiction over that area.
8. Waste and
Chemicals
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should promote
responsible management of
waste and use of chemicals.
Criterion 8.1: Operational practices will be
implemented to ensure that waste arising from
production processes as well as chemicals used
are stored, handled, and disposed of
responsibly.
Criterion 8.2: Responsible and science-based
operational practices will be implemented to
limit or reduce pesticide use.
Criterion 8.3: Operational practices will be
implemented to prevent, minimize, and
mitigate any damage from unintentional
release of fossil resources, fuel products,
and/or other chemicals.
9. Seismic and
Vibrational
Impacts
Not applicable
Not applicable
10. Human and
labour rights
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should respect
human and labour rights.
Criterion 10.1: CORSIA SAF production will
respect human and labour rights.
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11. Land use
rights and land
use
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should respect
land rights and land use rights
including indigenous and/or
customary rights.
Criterion 11.1: CORSIA SAF production will
respect existing land rights and land use rights
including indigenous peoples’ rights, both
formal and informal.
12. Water use
rights
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should respect
prior formal or customary
water use rights.
Criterion 12.1: CORSIA SAF production will
respect the existing water use rights of local
and indigenous communities.
13. Local and
social
development
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should
contribute to social and
economic development in
regions of poverty.
Criterion 13.1: CORSIA SAF production will
strive to, in regions of poverty, improve the
socioeconomic conditions of the communities
affected by the operation.
14. Food security
Principle: Production of
CORSIA SAF should promote
food security in food insecure
regions.
Criterion 14.1: CORSIA SAF production will,
in food insecure regions, strive to enhance the
local food security of directly affected
stakeholders.
Guidance on the application of sustainability criteria for CORSIA Sustainable Aviation Fuels
(SAF)
a) compliance with the sustainability criteria will be certified by an approved Sustainability
Certification Scheme (SCS) included in the ICAO document “CORSIA Approved Sustainability
Certification Schemes” which is available on the ICAO CORSIA website. An aeroplane operator
seeking to claim emissions reductions from the use of CORSIA Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
will provide evidence of the SCS’ certification in its emissions reporting in accordance with
Annex 16, Volume IV;
b) in assessing compliance with the sustainability criteria, an SCS will apply only ICAO-approved
sustainability criteria for the certification of CORSIA SAF, on the following basis:
i. compliance with Themes 1 to 3 will be assessed by the SCS;
ii. compliance with Themes 4 to 8 will be assessed by SCS taking into account the
guidance approved by the Council
1
and in accordance with the following
procedure:
a) prior to an SCS conducting an assessment in a State in which it never
operated before, the SCS will consult with the competent authority of the
State concerned, if required, in order to discuss the detailed process of
assessment and for the SCS to be fully aware of the national and local
requirements applying to the production of SAF. In the case of States
that establish such requirement, the assessment by SCS will only take
place after such consultations and common understanding between the
competent authority and SCS on the detailed process of assessment by
the SCS. With a view to implementing this consultation process, Member
1
Guidance on the application of Sustainability Criteria, Themes 4 to 8, is available on the “CORSIA eligible fuels” website.
ICAO document — CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels
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States which require consultation will notify ICAO which competent
authority should be contacted by the SCS; and
b) in the case of diverging approaches between the competent authority and
the SCS, the Member State concerned may refer the matter to the ICAO
Council to review the disagreement relating to the interpretation and
application of the guidance for Themes 4 to 8. The review may include
the support of relevant UN domain experts, as appropriate, on the request
of the Member State. The Member State concerned will participate in
this review process;
iii. compliance with Themes 10, 11 and 12 can be demonstrated to the SCS by a
national attestation from the State in whose territory the SAF is produced,
without further assessment by the SCS;
iv. compliance with Themes 13 and 14 will be demonstrated to the SCS by the
economic operator reporting to the SCS the actions being taken to meet the
related criteria, without further judgement of those actions by the SCS.
c) CORSIA sustainability criteria for CORSIA SAF does not set a precedent for, or prejudge the
outcome of negotiations in other fora.
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Chapter 3: CORSIA SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA APPLICABLE FOR BATCHES OF
CORSIA LOWER CARBON AVIATION FUEL PRODUCED BY A CERTIFIED FUEL
PRODUCER ON OR AFTER 1 JANUARY 2024
Note 1: LCAF that meet CORSIA sustainability criteria are not considered sustainable fuels.
Theme
Principle
Criteria
1. Greenhouse
Gases (GHG)
Principle: CORSIA
LCAF should generate
lower carbon emissions
on a life cycle basis.
Criterion 1.1: CORSIA LCAF will achieve net
greenhouse gas emissions reductions of at least 10%
compared to the baseline life cycle emissions values for
aviation fuel on a life cycle basis.
2. Carbon stock
Principle: CORSIA
LCAF should not be
made from feedstock
obtained from
land/aquatic systems with
high biogenic carbon
stock.
Criterion 2.1: CORSIA LCAF will not be made from
feedstock that is either obtained/extracted from land or
aquatic ecosystems converted after 1 January 2008 that
was primary forest, wetlands, peat lands, coral reefs,
kelp forests, seagrass meadows, estuaries, tidal salt
marshes or mangrove forests or contributes to
degradation of the carbon stock in primary forests,
wetlands, peatlands, coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass
meadows, estuaries, tidal salt marshes or mangrove
forests as these systems all have high carbon stocks.
Criterion 2.2: In the event of land use conversion after 1
January 2008, as defined based on the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
land categories, direct land use change (DLUC)
emissions will be calculated. If DLUC greenhouse gas
emissions exceed the default induced land use change
(ILUC) value, the DLUC value will replace the default
ILUC value. Where there is no default ILUC value,
DLUC will be calculated and used in place of a default
ILUC value.
3. Greenhouse
gas Emissions
Reduction
Permanence
Principle: Emissions
reductions attributed to
CORSIA LCAF should
be permanent.
Criterion 3.1: Operational practices will be
implemented to monitor, mitigate and compensate any
material incidence of non-permanence resulting from
carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) activities.
Criterion 3.2 Operational practices and financial
measures will be implemented to monitor, mitigate and
compensate any material incidence of greenhouse gas
release resulting from closure and post-closure period
of oil and gas wells.
4. Water
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
Criterion 4.1: Operational practices will be
implemented to maintain or enhance water quality.
ICAO document — CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels
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maintain or enhance
water quality and
availability.
Criterion 4.2: Operational practices will be
implemented to use water efficiently and to avoid the
depletion of surface or groundwater resources beyond
replenishment capacities.
5. Soil
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
maintain or enhance soil
health.
Criterion 5.1: Operational practices will be
implemented to maintain or enhance soil health, such as
physical, chemical and biological conditions.
6. Air
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
minimize negative effects
on air quality.
Criterion 6.1: Air pollution emissions will be limited.
7. Conservation
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
maintain biodiversity,
conservation value, and
ecosystem services.
Criterion 7.1: CORSIA LCAF will not be made from
feedstock from areas that, due to their biodiversity,
conservation value, or ecosystem services, are protected
by the State having jurisdiction over that area, unless
evidence is provided that shows the activity does not
interfere with the protection purposes.
Criterion 7.2: Low invasive-risk feedstock will be
selected for cultivation and appropriate controls will be
adopted with the intention of preventing the
uncontrolled spread of cultivated alien species and
modified microorganisms
Criterion 7.3: Operational practices will be
implemented to avoid adverse effects on areas that, due
their biodiversity, conservation value, or ecosystem
services, are protected by the State having jurisdiction
over that area.
8. Waste and
Chemicals
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
promote responsible
management of waste and
use of chemicals.
Criterion 8.1: Operational practices will be
implemented to ensure that waste arising from
production processes as well as chemicals used are
stored, handled and disposed of responsibly.
Criterion 8.2: Responsible and science-based
operational practices will be implemented to limit or
reduce flammable, corrosive and toxic chemical use.
Criterion 8.3: Operational practices will be
implemented to prevent, minimize, and mitigate any
damage from unintentional release of fossil resources,
fuel products, and/or other chemicals.
9. Seismic and
Vibrational
Impacts
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
minimize seismic,
Criterion 9.1: Operational practices will be
implemented to minimize seismic impacts related to
surface, subsurface, and underwater activities.
ICAO document — CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels
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acoustic, and vibrational
impacts.
Criterion 9.2: Operational practices will be
implemented to minimize acoustic energy and
vibrational impacts related to surface, subsurface, and
underwater activities.
10. Human and
labour rights
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
respect human and labour
rights.
Criterion 10.1: CORSIA LCAF production will respect
human and labour rights.
11. Land use
rights and land
use
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
respect land rights and
land use rights including
indigenous and/or
customary rights.
Criterion 11.1: CORSIA LCAF production will respect
existing land rights and land use rights including
indigenous peoples’ rights, both formal and informal.
12. Water use
rights
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
respect prior formal or
customary water use
rights.
Criterion 12.1: CORSIA LCAF production will respect
the existing water use rights of local and indigenous
communities.
13. Local and
social
development
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
contribute to social and
economic development in
regions of poverty.
Criterion 13.1: CORSIA LCAF production will strive
to, in regions of poverty, improve the socioeconomic
conditions of the communities affected by the
operation.
14. Food security
Principle: Production of
CORSIA LCAF should
promote food security in
food insecure regions.
Criterion 14.1: CORSIA LCAF production will, in food
insecure regions, strive to enhance the local food
security of directly affected stakeholders.
Guidance on the application of sustainability criteria for CORSIA Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels
(LCAF)
a. compliance with the sustainability criteria will be certified by an approved Sustainability
Certification Scheme (SCS) included in the ICAO document “CORSIA Approved Sustainability
Certification Schemes” which is available on the ICAO CORSIA website. An aeroplane operator
seeking to claim emissions reductions from the use of CORSIA Lower Carbon Aviation Fuel
(LCAF) will provide evidence of the SCS’ certification in its emissions reporting in accordance
with Annex 16, Volume IV;
b. in assessing compliance with the sustainability criteria, an SCS will apply only ICAO-approved
sustainability criteria for the certification of CORSIA LCAF, on the following basis:
i. compliance with Themes 1 through 9 will be assessed by the SCS;
ICAO document — CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels
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ii. compliance with Themes 10, 11, and 12 can be demonstrated to the SCS by a national
attestation from the State in whose territory the LCAF is produced, without further
assessment by the SCS;
iii. compliance with Themes 13 and 14 will be demonstrated to the SCS by the economic
operator reporting to the SCS the actions being taken to meet the related criteria, without
further judgement of those actions by the SCS.
c. CORSIA sustainability criteria for CORSIA LCAF does not set a precedent for, or prejudge the
outcome of negotiations in other fora
d. compliance with Criterion 1.1 will be based on the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions after
LCAF technologies and methane management practices are introduced, as certified by an SCS,
following the methods to calculate L
LCAF
, the life cycle emissions value for LCAF for purpose of
assessing eligibility, as provided in Section 7 of the ICAO document “CORSIA Methodology for
Calculating Actual Life Cycle Emissions Values”.
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