Set, Jet, Zero: Why High-Quality Carbon Credits Are Critical for Aviation's Net Zero Future

The global aviation industry is entering a transformative decade. As countries and regulators ramp up climate commitments, new carbon compliance measures are reshaping the skies - starting with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandates and ending with the full implementation of CORSIA by 2027.

For airlines and their supply chains, the journey to jet zero is complex - and carbon credits will play a critical role in getting there.

CORSIA Goes Mandatory: What’s Changing?

The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) becomes mandatory in 2027. It will apply to international flights across 123 countries, covering around 75-80% of emissions above 2019 levels. It runs alongside the EU ETS and soon, the UK ETS, creating a multi-layered compliance environment for carriers.

This comes on top of SAF mandates in the UK and EU from January 2025, and the end of free EU ETS allowances in 2026. For airlines, this means higher operational costs, stricter emissions reporting, and growing pressure to prove real environmental impact.

Why Aviation Needs Carbon Credits Now

While SAF and aircraft efficiency upgrades are essential, they aren’t scaling fast enough. SAF production is still limited, and fleet turnover takes decades. That’s why high-quality carbon credits are vital to bridge the gap in the short to medium term.

CORSIA enables airlines to offset emissions growth using approved carbon credits. Between now and 2035, it could help mitigate over 1.3 billion tonnes of CO₂. By the late 2030s, annual credit demand may reach 300 million tonnes, depending on SAF adoption and air traffic trends.

Redefining Quality in the Voluntary Carbon Market

Carbon credits have faced scrutiny in the past. While early initiatives like easyJet’s offsetting program were bold, some credits used lacked transparency and robust verification. This undermined trust and led to questions about effectiveness.

With CORSIA becoming mandatory, the aviation sector now has a chance to raise the bar. CORSIA-approved credits must meet strict criteria: they must be permanent, additional, measurable, verified, and cause no net harm. The COP29 agreements on global carbon market rules will also drive stronger monitoring and reporting standards.

Consumers Are Watching - and Expecting Action

According to the CAA Aviation Consumer Survey 2024, 22% of passengers rank environmental impact as aviation’s top priority - second only to cost. Yet only half trust that the industry is genuinely reducing emissions.

CORSIA can help rebuild this trust by ensuring that offsetting is real, traceable, and effective. Airlines must communicate clearly how they’re meeting environmental targets - especially if compliance costs are passed on via ticket prices or SAF surcharges.

The Future Is in Carbon Removals

Most carbon credits today come from emissions reduction or avoidance projects. But to meet climate goals, we’ll also need large-scale carbon removals. That includes engineered solutions like bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air capture (DAC), with the Climate Change Committee estimating that BECCS will deliver 89% of engineered removals by 2040.

These technologies offer greater permanence and more accurate measurement than many nature-based solutions. For example, BECCS can remove carbon for thousands of years and use metering equipment to track CO₂ flows precisely.

Evero’s InBECCS project, based at Ince Biopower in the North West, will apply CCS technology to a waste-wood-to-renewable energy plant using waste wood and will see up to 250,000 tonnes of potential carbon captured annually. As the pathfinder for the UK BECCS industry, INBECCS will be a model for generating verifiable, high-impact carbon removal credits.

Final Descent: The Case for Investing in Quality Now

The route to net zero aviation - or "jet zero" - will depend on scaling both SAF and carbon credits. But not all credits are created equal. Those from engineered removals like BECCS will likely become the most valuable, especially if CORSIA or other systems introduce emissions caps in the future.

By investing early in high-integrity carbon removals, airlines and stakeholders can future-proof their compliance strategies and lead the transition to a more sustainable aviation industry.