How nature-based solutions support CORSIA and responsible airline offsetting

The aviation industry is

responsible for about 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions

; has contributed around 4% to global warming; and is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gases. While technological advancements such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and fuel-efficient aircraft can help reduce these emissions, they are not a solution for the short-term and are insufficient as a single tool to achieve the aviation sector’s long-term climate goals. SAF production remains limited, with high costs and scalability challenges preventing widespread adoption. Even the most fuel-efficient aircraft still produce significant emissions, and fleet turnover takes decades.

Given that

global air traffic is projected to double by 2050

, reliance on in-sector solutions alone is unlikely to curb aviation’s growing carbon footprint. This shows the urgent need for additional strategies to bridge the emissions gap and ensure the industry aligns with international climate commitments.

Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

is a global carbon offsetting initiative by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designed to help the aviation sector achieve carbon-neutral growth. The scheme requires airlines to offset any increase in CO₂ emissions above 2020 levels.

It also mandates that airline operators emitting more than 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually monitor, report, and verify their emissions every year while complementing other aviation emission reduction efforts, such as:

These rules apply primarily to international flights (domestic flights and operators below the threshold are excluded) and aim to reduce aviation’s climate impact through carbon offsetting rather than emission reduction alone.

The scheme is being implemented in three phases:

Under CORSIA, airlines are required to purchase carbon credits from approved methodologies and standards that reduce or remove emissions. These projects can range from renewable energy and industrial carbon capture to nature-based solutions like

grasslands

protection,

forest

conservation and

mangrove

and

peatlands

restoration.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are among the most effective tools for addressing climate change, providing a triple benefit of carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Research suggests that

natural climate solutions could deliver over 30% of the global emission reductions needed by 2030

, making them indispensable in aviation’s path to sustainability.

Natural ecosystems act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing atmospheric CO₂ at an unparalleled scale. Forests alone sequester around 7.6 billion metric tonnes of CO₂ annually, significantly slowing global warming. Mangroves are also particularly efficient, capturing up to 10 times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. Even more striking, peatlands, though covering just 3% of Earth’s land,

store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined

.

Unlike technological carbon removal solutions such as Direct Air Capture (DAC), which remain expensive and require decades to scale, NBS are ready for deployment. Restoring degraded forests, protecting wetlands, and improving soil health are solutions that already exist and are already making a measurable impact. This immediate scalability makes NBS an attractive option for aviation offsetting under CORSIA.

Beyond their role in carbon sequestration, NBS also offer environmental and social benefits. Healthy ecosystems support biodiversity by providing critical habitats for wildlife. Additionally, NBS initiatives enhance water security and often create jobs and empower local communities.

The ICAO-approved offset programmes focus on additionality, permanence, and leakage prevention, ensuring that the carbon reductions are real and lasting. NbS are a verifiable, trustworthy and scalable solution that aligns seamlessly with these sustainability goals.

While nature-based solutions are highly effective in addressing carbon emissions, not all projects have the same results. To ensure that offsetting efforts genuinely contribute to climate mitigation, airlines should prioritise:

For carbon offset projects to be effective under CORSIA, they must meet stringent eligibility standards set by the ICAO. To ensure transparency and build trust, airlines invest in carbon credits that are developed using established methodologies and registered with approved organisations such as Verra, the Climate Action Reserve, or the American Carbon Registry.

For an offset project to be credible, it must demonstrate additionality, meaning that the emission reductions would not have occurred in the absence of the project. Equally important is permanence, the guarantee that carbon stored in forests, wetlands, or soil remains sequestered for the long term. ICAO requires that projects secure carbon storage for

at least 100 years

.

To ensure the effectiveness of carbon offset projects,

continuous monitoring and verification

are essential. Advanced technologies such as remote sensing, or in-depth on-the-ground field assessments, help track forest health, carbon sequestration rates, and land-use changes.

Airlines should adopt a balanced portfolio of nature-based solutions. This can be done by linking ticket purchases to projects and developing branded carbon offset programmes.

Rather than purchasing secondary market carbon credits, airlines can make direct investments in origination projects. By working with trusted partners like Earthly, airlines can help fund new, high-integrity NBS initiatives that actively restore degraded ecosystems.

Supporting origination projects

ensures that offset investments lead to real, additional carbon sequestration.

As global aviation accelerates its transition toward net-zero emissions, ICAO is reviewing offset methodologies, emphasising permanence, additionality, and transparency to prevent

greenwashing

. Meanwhile, the voluntary carbon market is on a steep growth trajectory, projected to reach $50 billion by 2030,

according to McKinsey

.

Major airlines are setting ambitious net-zero targets, further driving demand for reliable offsetting solutions. For instance,

International Airlines Group (IAG)

aims for net-zero emissions by 2050. Lufthansa Group has launched a

green fares program

.

CORSIA provides a structured framework for airlines to offset emissions, and nature-based solutions offer a cost-effective, scalable, and high-integrity way to achieve compliance.

At Earthly

, we are proud that our projects not only remove CO₂ but also restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity.