The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and 123Carbon have announced a strategic collaboration to develop interoperability between their respective Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) registries. Interoperability will enhance transparency, prevent emissions reporting errors—including double issuance—and streamline certificate management across SAF registries.
The collaboration between IATA and 123Carbon will focus on three key elements:
- A unique identifier and alignment of the relevant data points to exchange between registries.
- A process for the exchange of information to prevent any potential double issuance.
- A dispute resolution process.
“User trust is essential. The transparency that comes with interoperability will ensure that our registries can function cohesively to maximise SAF’s potential to support aviation’s decarbonisation. The broader the alignment among registry providers, the better. We welcome all entities active in this field to work with IATA and 123Carbon towards global interoperability between all registries,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.
“123Carbon is committed to establishing integrity and trust in the market for Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) within multi-modal transportation (e.g. air, sea, road & rail). With IATA, we have found a strong partner in the aviation sector that shares our beliefs. This collaboration allows SAF providers, airlines, freight forwarders, and corporate entities to utilise our platforms without the concern of double issuance, whilst managing their SAF certificates digitally on our platform,” said Jeroen van Heiningen, Managing Director, 123Carbon.
IATA and 123Carbon will seek engagement with other SAF stakeholders to join this initiative to deepen the interaction between registries.
The IATA SAF Registry will launch in April 2025 with the aim to facilitate the broadest possible use of SAF in aviation’s decarbonisation by standardising the market for SAF certificates. SAF certificates are issued after a SAF batch is registered and contain product and environmental attribute information. As part of its preparation for the Registry’s launch, IATA recently released the IATA SAF Accounting and Reporting Methodology – https://www.iata.org/contentassets/d13875e9ed784f75bac90f000760e998/iata-sustainable-aviation-fuel-saf-accounting–reporting-methodology.pdf
The development of the IATA SAF Registry is supported by over 50 organisations, including airlines, fuel producers, and State authorities. In developing the IATA SAF Registry, IATA is also consulting with a broad range of SAF stakeholders, including 123Carbon.
