On the morning of last Friday, October 7, 2022, the Brazil signed international commitments to reduce C02 emissions in international air transport. This is a historic agreement for the sustainability of the airline industry, adopted during the 41st Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The objective is to guarantee carbon neutral growth in Brazilian aviation from 2027 and 100% offsetting of CO2 emissions by 2050.

In addition, the agreement provides for the implementation of means that help developing countries to achieve the decarbonization of aviation, through cooperation activities, voluntary transfer of technology and access to financing.

Long-term goal of international aviation

The agreement sets the long-term goal for international aviation to be carbon neutral by 2050. To achieve this ambitious goal, international aviation must reduce its carbon footprint through, for example, the extensive use of sustainable fuels, the adoption of new technologies that reduce aircraft emissions or by offsetting 100% of their emissions. 

The long-term goal demonstrates the commitment to global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and to the energy transition of international aviation.

CORSIA review

In addition to the long-term objective, CORSIA, the ICAO program for reducing and offsetting CO2 emissions from international flights, was reviewed, ensuring the neutral growth of emissions.

CORSIA was adopted by ICAO in 2016 with the aim of helping air operators to meet the goal of carbon neutral growth from 2020. According to the terms of the agreement, airlines that operate Brazilian routes internationally will be obliged to compensate its emissions – through the purchase of carbon credits – starting in 2027.

The revisions made during the 41st Assembly contemplated Brazil's demands and reinforce the strengthening of CORSIA as the only global mechanism for offsetting emissions in the sector. The main consequence for the Brazilian market is that the agreement signals the commitment of airlines operating in Brazil to the sustainable growth of aviation without penalizing the growth of smaller operators. With the adjustments made, companies begin to compensate proportionally to their CO2 emissions, and not to their level of growth.

See, below, which were the revisions of CORSIA:

• Due to the strong impact of Covid-19 on international air traffic, the Assembly revised the baseline that will be considered as the basis for the neutrality of aviation emissions. Prior to the revision, the baseline considered the average emissions in the years 2019 and 2020. With the revision, the baseline was adjusted to 85% of 2019 emissions, maintaining the ambition level of the scheme.
• Considering market distortions identified by Brazil, the Assembly revised CORSIA to avoid penalizing the sector's growth and allow fair competition between smaller air operators (with greater growth potential) and larger companies (more consolidated in the market).

Other agreements

The 41st ICAO Assembly was marked by debates and technical discussions on topics related to sustainable actions for the future of international aviation.

During the Assembly, in addition to the environmental agreement, Brazil also joined the cooperation program for the promotion of sustainable aviation fuels, the ICAO Assistance, Capacity Building and Training (ACT) for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) – ACT-SAF, which aims to encourage the promotion of sustainable aviation fuels.

Brazil has great potential for the production of sustainable fuels and is committed to supporting developing countries to leverage their production around the world.

Meet environment page (click on the link to access) and everything the Agency is doing for the sustainability of the airline industry.

Do you want to know more about Brazil's role in the 41st ICAO Assembly? Visit (Click on the link to access).

Street: ANAC