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The International Air Transport Association and the International Civil Aviation Organization are strengthening their cooperation for the development of and oversight on sustainable aviation fuels
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The goal is to provide transparent and credible tracking of aviation’s progress toward clean energy and achieving net zero emissions by 2050
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Both organizations will explore how SAF registries and their data can support ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal Monitoring and Reporting methodology
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The CADO SAF Registry is cited as a key data source with the potential to measure emissions reductions from SAF use
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IATA director general Willie Walsh emphasized that credible tracking will accelerate deployment and build stakeholder trust
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ICAO secretary general Juan Carlos Salazar stressed the need for unprecedented transparency and cooperation sector-wide
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced a deepened cooperation at the recent ICAO Aviation Climate Week, targeting stronger transparency and data integrity in tracking the aviation industry’s progress on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
The commitment calls for close collaboration between the aviation industry and member states, supported by robust data systems designed to produce credible, transparent measurements of cleaner aviation energies and their contribution to emissions reduction targets set by both organizations.
Central to the agreement is a joint exploration of how existing SAF registries, and the data they generate, can underpin implementation of ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) Monitoring and Reporting (LMR) methodology, as well as inform fuel accounting systems for international aviation.
IATA director general Willie Walsh said reliable measurement is the foundation for progress.
“Credible tracking is necessary to know the emissions reductions delivered by SAF. The data collected by the CADO SAF Registry, among others, has the potential to meet this need,” Walsh said.
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“By working with ICAO to strengthen how progress on SAF use is measured and reported, we can accelerate deployment, build trust across stakeholders, and put aviation on track for net zero by 2050. This will set a great example for individual states to work with industry to make the most of the SAF data that is being accumulated,” he added.
ICAO secretary general Juan Carlos Salazar said the agreement is critical to the organization’s broader climate leadership role.
“Achieving ICAO’s vision of net‑zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050 will require unprecedented levels of transparency and cooperation across the entire sector. This agreement will support the strengthening of ICAO’s leadership as we support States and industry in their scaling up of sustainable aviation fuels and other aviation cleaner energies,” Salazar said.
“By improving our global monitoring capabilities and visibility into SAF production, distribution, and use, we can support the integrity of global fuel accounting systems and ensure that climate investments are recognized consistently and transparently under ICAO frameworks,” he said.
SAF, produced from non-petroleum feedstocks, is widely regarded as aviation’s most viable near-term option for deep emissions cuts, but its global rollout has been constrained by high production costs, limited supply, and inconsistent reporting standards.
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