GreenAir’s roundup of the latest news and comment from around the world on efforts to reduce aviation’s climate and environmental impact
ANALYSIS: What an expanded EU ETS coverage could mean for airlines
24 June 2026
As aviation faces increasing pressure to decarbonise, two carbon pricing systems are now at the centre of the policy debate: the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and ICAO’s CORSIA carbon offsetting scheme. Today, the ETS applies to all flights operating within the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as departures to the UK and Switzerland. On the other hand, CORSIA is currently a voluntary offsetting scheme set to become mandatory for most ICAO states from 2027. Acknowledging the gap in ETS coverage from not including all international flights departing the EEA, the European Commission is now assessing whether greater action is needed to incentivise decarbonisation beyond Europe. Against this backdrop, Ruchika Kulkarni and Archie Brown of IBA examine which airlines would be the most exposed.
COMMENTARY: CORSIA – A flawed scheme worth saving?
24 June 2026
In less than 18 months, the aviation sector’s carbon offsetting scheme CORSIA is set to enter mandatory offsetting for airlines in 130 countries. According to IATA, the aviation industry is expected to offset an estimated 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, channelling $4-5 billion into carbon markets. This comes at a critical time, as the offsetting industry continues to recover from recent integrity crises. CORSIA was meant to drive a reset through more stringent standards. The aviation model was also expected to provide a blueprint for the maritime industry, as a harmonised mechanism to decarbonise cross border emissions. Yet, so close to kick-off, CORSIA finds itself at a crossroads, facing the biggest challenges to its viability since its conception. Surprisingly, these hurdles are being erected by the same governments that were instrumental in creating the scheme and fleshing it out over the last decade, writes AirAsia’s Yap Mun Ching.
Twelve opens AirPlant One, America’s first commercial-scale eSAF facility
11 June 2026
Power-to-liquid technology company Twelve has opened its AirPlant One facility in Moses Lake, Washington, the first in the United States to produce drop-in sustainable aviation fuel at scale from the conversion of CO2 and renewable electricity. The ribbon-cutting was attended by partners Alaska Airlines and Microsoft. The airline intends operating regular domestic flights with Twelve’s E-Jet fuel, with Microsoft supporting the scale-up of AirPlant One through a strategic investment from its Climate Innovation Fund. The deal with Microsoft also includes a SAF offtake agreement that uses a book-and-claim accounting model pioneered alongside Alaska Airlines that will allow Microsoft to reduce reported emissions associated with its business travel.
EasyJet and Schiphol Airport deploy electric TaxiBot for Airbus taxiing operations
10 June 2026
Following a trial earlier this year, easyJet and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport have begun deploying electric TaxiBot technology for Airbus aircraft operations at the airport. TaxiBot is a semi-robotic aircraft tractor that enables aircraft to taxi between the gate and runway without using their main jet engines. The low-cost carrier estimates the technology will save an average 95kg of fuel and 299kg of CO2 per flight, while also reducing apron noise. Four easyJet Airbus aircraft are being equipped for TaxiBot operations at Schiphol, with the two partners collaborating with Airbus, Menzies Aviation and Smart Airport Systems. The airport has ambitions to achieve fully sustainable taxiing operations by 2030 and is the first in Europe to deploy electric TaxiBot technology for Airbus aircraft.
Airlines and the carbon market form alliance to unlock supply of CORSIA-eligible credits
9 June 2026
IATA has launched a stakeholder alliance of airlines and carbon market specialists to boost the availability of 225-250 million CORSIA-eligible carbon credits, called Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs), by Spring 2027. The Supporting Alliance for CORSIA EEU Supply is aiming to help facilitate and enable countries’ management of the interface between their Nationally Determined Contributions under the UNFCCC and the Letter of Authorization process required to make carbon credits available for use under CORSIA. IATA estimates the ICAO carbon scheme could generate $4-5 billion of climate finance in the first phase of the scheme (2024-26) and potentially $100 billion by 2035, depending on market prices. Meanwhile, carbon market data analysts Sylvera reports around 640 million tonnes of credits are potentially eligible for the first phase but only 47 million tonnes satisfy requirements due to a failure by host countries to authorise credits.
Hope fading fast for industry net zero by 2050 target as SAF growth slows, says IATA chief
8 June 2026
In his final speech as Director General of industry trade body IATA, Willie Walsh said although there was hope the aviation sector’s net zero by 2050 target could still be achieved, that hope was “fading fast”. He hinted a new timeline would be a likely outcome that would be more realistic and would be within the broader context of the global energy transition, and he called for an urgent “action oriented” dialogue. SAF production this year was likely to cover only 0.8% of airline fuel needs, around 2.4 million tonnes, up from 0.6% in 2025, and the gap with the 65%, or 500 million tonnes, required to meet net zero 2050 was not closing fast enough, he said. SAF mandates in the EU and UK were a “spectacular failure”, he added, and accused the EU of undermining ICAO’s CORSIA carbon scheme, which he suggested could likely fail.
We must demonstrate progress is being made towards achieving climate goals, says ICAO chief
3 June 2026
Immediate, harmonised and inclusive global action is required to demonstrate progress is accelerating towards climate goals and that net zero carbon emissions from international civil aviation will be achieved by 2050, said ICAO Council President Toshiyuki Onuma at the opening of ICAO Aviation Climate Week in Montreal. This will require deepening global commitment to drive advances in technology and policy, financial support where needed, and increased investment and stronger implementation by all States, he added. The meeting brings together industry and government representatives to discuss the sector’s most serious challenges, such as scaling cleaner aviation fuels, financing the net zero transition and implementation of ICAO’s CORSIA carbon scheme. On the first day, ICAO and airline trade body IATA announced enhanced cooperation on tracking progress and accelerating development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels.
Syntholene prepares to start operations of its geothermal eSAF demo facility
3 June 2026
Chicago-based Syntholene says it is about to complete construction in Húsavik, Iceland, of a geothermally-integrated, high-temperature electrolysis demonstration facility for synthetic fuel production. The company is seeking to commercialise its proprietary Hybrid Thermal Production System for low-cost, clean-fuel synthesis, with a target to produce “ultrapure” synthetic jet fuel at 70% lower cost than today’s nearest competing technology. Once operations commence at the facility, Syntholene expects effects testing and real-world data gathering to begin shortly thereafter, with initial efficiency and techno-economic data targeted for publication in Q4 2026. The company says it has received interest from Icelandair to supply the airline with 20,000 tonnes of fuel annually over 10 years.
COMMENTARY: Brazil reaches a crossroads on CORSIA and the carbon markets
1 June 2026
Brazil is a major emerging economy that has yet to sign up to the compliance phase of UN agency ICAO’s carbon scheme, CORSIA. And yet the country, rich in natural resources and a leading environmental power, has the potential to play an important role in Article 6 carbon markets and to supply airlines with much-needed eligible credits to meet their obligations under CORSIA. International legal expert and former Brazilian foreign trade minister Welber Barral argues that by not joining the evolving global scheme, as imperfect as it is, Brazil risks becoming a rule-taker rather than a rule-maker. He calls for clear CORSIA participation, credible authorisation procedures and a domestic carbon market framework capable of supplying units that meet both ICAO and, where needed, EU expectations.
More News & Features
ANALYSIS: What an expanded EU ETS coverage could mean for airlines
COMMENTARY: CORSIA – A flawed scheme worth saving?
Twelve opens AirPlant One, America’s first commercial-scale eSAF facility
EasyJet and Schiphol Airport deploy electric TaxiBot for Airbus taxiing operations
Airlines and the carbon market form alliance to unlock supply of CORSIA-eligible credits
Hope fading fast for industry net zero by 2050 target as SAF growth slows, says IATA chief