Air India is taking the lead on aviation sustainability along with IATA in India to help create an understanding of requirements for Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) for airlines in India flying internationally. MRV is the first stage of ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

“Having participated in the [European Union-Emissions Trading Scheme] EU-ETS, we have faced challenges and complexities of compiling data. We have offered to help Indian carriers on any issues they may face to provide a modular orientation….While IATA provides the methodology, we offer practical experience on MRV,” said Harpreet A De Singh, head of corporate environment management system, Air India.

IATA recently held a three-day workshop attended by Indian, Bangladesh, and Singapore carriers in Delhi as part of its international initiative to demonstrate additional CORSIA-specific technical competencies. “India was one of the first countries to put in place legislation with the DGCA having issued civil aviation requirements on MRV,”  Michel Adam, senior manager, aviation environment, IATA told AIN.

CORSIA’s obligations have already started. As of  Jan. 1, 2019, all global carriers are required to report their CO₂ emissions on an annual basis. Data for the year related to emissions in India has to be submitted to the regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by airlines as per ICAO.

Starting in 2027, it will become mandatory for all states to take part in offsetting requirements. Offsetting will compensate for emissions by financing a reduction in emissions elsewhere. Offsetting and carbon markets are fundamental components of global, regional, and national emissions reduction policies. They have operated for decades for compliance purposes and voluntary emissions reductions and continue to be an effective mechanism to underpin action against climate change, said an IATA statement. However, India has not as yet volunteered to be part of CORSIA, which IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac had in January expressed disappointment about. Singh noted, “India is fully supportive of its environment goal with a green aviation policy soon to be released. There are some [political] challenges that CORSIA may face here.”