IATA and carbon offsetting

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents some 230 of the world’s airlines and 93% of international scheduled air traffic.

Did you know?

• In the context of addressing climate change concerns, offsetting is an action by companies or individuals to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions, in this case arising from their use of commercial aviation. The offset can be equivalent in part or in whole to the associated emissions, by financing a reduction in emissions elsewhere.
• Offsets, in either CO2 or an equivalent offset by another greenhouse gas, can be purchased by countries, companies or individuals to reduce their net carbon emissions.

What are we doing?

• IATA has a vision for the industry to achieve carbon neutral growth through a four-pillar strategy. The first three pillars are technological progress, effective operations; and efficient infrastructure. The fourth pillar, economic instruments, includes tax credits for research and development as well as emissions trading if implemented in the right way through ICAO. Another part of emissions trading is the role that passengers and customers can play in offsetting their flight emissions by financing a reduction in emissions elsewhere.
• IATA produced a set of best practice guidelines for offsets and to develop an industry carbon offset programme for future use by airlines if they wish to do so.

What is the result?

• The “IATA Carbon Offsetting – Guidelines” gives vital guidance for those airlines wanting to implement an offset programme for their customers. It answers a number of questions and guides airlines through this complicated area.