ICAO CORSIA vs. UNFCCC Paris Agreement

Attribute	ICAO CORSIA	UNFCCC Paris Agreement
Scope	Aviation sector	Global
Objective	Offsetting CO2 emissions growth	Limiting global temperature rise
Implementation	Voluntary for most countries	Legally binding for signatory countries
Timeframe	Starting in 2021	Starting in 2020

Introduction

ICAO CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) and UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Paris Agreement are two significant international agreements aimed at addressing climate change. While both agreements have the common goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they differ in their scope, approach, and implementation mechanisms.

Scope

ICAO CORSIA specifically targets emissions from international aviation, which is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement sets out a framework for airlines to offset their emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. On the other hand, the UNFCCC Paris Agreement is a broader agreement that covers all sectors and aims to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Approach

ICAO CORSIA takes a market-based approach to reducing emissions by allowing airlines to offset their emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. This approach incentivizes airlines to reduce their emissions and invest in sustainable practices. In contrast, the UNFCCC Paris Agreement relies on nationally determined contributions (NDCs) from each country to reduce emissions. Countries are required to set their own targets and implement policies to achieve them.

Implementation Mechanisms

ICAO CORSIA has a phased implementation approach, with the first phase beginning in 2021 for voluntary participation and the second phase starting in 2027 for all countries with significant international aviation activity. The agreement also includes monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) requirements to ensure transparency and accountability. On the other hand, the UNFCCC Paris Agreement requires countries to submit NDCs and report on their progress towards meeting their targets. The agreement also includes a global stocktake every five years to assess collective progress.

Flexibility

ICAO CORSIA provides flexibility for airlines to choose how they reduce their emissions, whether through offsetting, fuel efficiency improvements, or other measures. The agreement also allows for the use of a variety of offsetting mechanisms, including the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the new market-based measure developed by ICAO. In contrast, the UNFCCC Paris Agreement allows countries to determine their own pathways to reducing emissions, taking into account their national circumstances and capabilities.

Cooperation

ICAO CORSIA encourages cooperation among countries and airlines to achieve emissions reductions through the use of a global market-based measure. The agreement also includes provisions for technical assistance and capacity-building to help countries implement the scheme. Similarly, the UNFCCC Paris Agreement emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate change and provides a framework for countries to work together towards a common goal.

Conclusion

While ICAO CORSIA and UNFCCC Paris Agreement both aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change, they differ in their scope, approach, and implementation mechanisms. ICAO CORSIA focuses specifically on emissions from international aviation and takes a market-based approach to reducing emissions, while the UNFCCC Paris Agreement is a broader agreement that covers all sectors and relies on nationally determined contributions. Both agreements provide flexibility and encourage cooperation among countries to achieve their emissions reduction goals.