How is CORSIA delaying aviation decarbonisation?
Policy briefing | February 2026
Introduction
With the upcoming revision of the EU emissions trading system (ETS), the EU faces a strategic choice: lead global aviation decarbonisation from Europe by ending the ETS exemption for international flight emissions, or perpetuate a framework that is structurally unable to deliver concrete emission reductions.
The continued exemption of international flights from the ETS is justified under the auspices of developing a global system: the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). While a global scheme to regulate aviation emissions is the ideal, CORSIA is structurally unfit for purpose.
CORSIA’s key shortcomings
CORSIA is endures many problems. The scheme is only set to run until 2035 without a clear pathway for strengthening its ambition. It also prioritises low-cost compliance over real transformation. Beyond this, CORSIA delays investment, and undermines returns for EU pioneering industries, by:
Relying on offsets rather than emissions reductions.
Leaving the vast majority of emissions unregulated.
Allowing unsustainable crop- and fossil-based fuels to lower requirements.
Lacking stringent enforceability mechanisms.
We urge the European Commission, Parliament and Council to show strong climate leadership by strengthening the EU ETS and extend it to international flights to effectively level the playing field, cut actual emissions, and reinvest revenues into the EU aviation sector.
