IATA releases SAF emissions accounting and reporting reporting guidelines

In Switzerland, International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its methodology for accounting and reporting the emissions reduction associated with the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by airlines. The publication of the IATA SAF accounting and reporting methodology is a critical step in the preparation of the IATA SAF Registry which is scheduled to launch in April 2025. The IATA SAF Registry is expected to play a key role in creating a functioning global SAF market.

Key Features:

·      Purchase-based emissions calculations, irrespective of chain-of-custody used and SAF uplift locations, aligning with ICAO’s CORSIA approach.

·      Optional tank-to-wake (TTW) or well-to-wake (WTW) emissions factors to meet varying regulatory and voluntary requirements.

·      A consistent accounting approach to address regulatory and voluntary compliance needs.

·      No pre-judgement of additionality decisions by the claiming party, as long as no double counting occurs in the accounting of SAF emissions reduction.

·      Guidance for SAF emissions reduction in per-passenger and per-shipment calculations.

Core principles:

·      A level playing field.

·      Prevention of double-counting.

·      Integrity in environmental and reporting claims.

·      Transparent, verifiable data.

The IATA SAF accounting and reporting methodology was developed in collaboration with more than 40 airline experts worldwide. It is feedstock-agnostic and technology-neutral. Moreover, the methodology complements existing international frameworks and reinforces consistency without duplicating efforts.