The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have announced enhanced cooperation to improve the tracking and reporting of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) use, a move aimed at accelerating the aviation sector’s transition to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The agreement was unveiled during ICAO Aviation Climate Week on June 2, with both organisations committing to work more closely on strengthening transparency and integrity in monitoring the production, distribution and use of sustainable aviation fuels, Travel Trends Today reported.
Under the collaboration, industry stakeholders and governments will explore ways to improve the tracking of cleaner aviation energy sources and accurately measure their contribution to reducing emissions. The initiative is aligned with the net-zero commitments adopted by both IATA and ICAO.
As part of the effort, the two organisations will examine how SAF registries and related data systems can support the implementation of ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) monitoring and reporting framework, while also contributing to the development of fuel accounting systems for international aviation.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, said reliable tracking systems are essential for measuring the emissions reductions achieved through SAF adoption. He noted that data collected through SAF registries, including the CADO SAF Registry, could play a key role in improving transparency and strengthening confidence among industry participants.
According to Walsh, closer cooperation between IATA and ICAO on SAF reporting and measurement can help accelerate fuel deployment, improve stakeholder trust and support the aviation industry’s pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of ICAO, said achieving the organisation’s long-term goal of net-zero emissions from international aviation would require greater transparency and unprecedented cooperation across the sector.
He said the agreement would reinforce ICAO’s role in supporting governments and industry as they scale up the use of sustainable aviation fuels and other cleaner energy sources. Improved monitoring and reporting systems, he added, would strengthen the integrity of global fuel accounting mechanisms and ensure that investments in aviation decarbonisation are recognised consistently and transparently.
The partnership is expected to support the wider adoption of SAF by creating a more robust framework for tracking environmental benefits and measuring progress towards global aviation climate targets.
