The global aviation industry renewed its call for coordinated climate action at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and several governments urged States to reaffirm the leadership of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in addressing international aviation emissions.
In a joint statement issued on 18 November 2025, the IATA, alongside Japan, Malaysia and major industry bodies, stressed that ICAO must remain the exclusive forum for regulating international aviation emissions. The signatories cautioned against fragmented or unilateral measures, arguing that only a globally coordinated approach can effectively support the sector’s ambition to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Central to the call was strengthening the implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), ICAO’s market-based mechanism designed to stabilise emissions from international aviation through carbon offsetting. The statement also urged countries to operationalise Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to unlock climate finance and enable the issuance of CORSIA-eligible emissions units.
Against this global backdrop, the South African Civil Aviation Authority says it is sharpening its environmental focus for 2026, with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), regulatory alignment and CORSIA implementation high on the agenda. We spoke to a representative from SACAA to get a deeper insight into how the body is working towards a more sustainable future.
SAF Roadmap And Regulatory Oversight
According to SACAA, a key milestone has been the completion of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Business Implementation Study. The next phase will centre on implementing its recommendations, including developing a National SAF Roadmap to guide the structured introduction and scaling of SAF within South Africa.
“The SACAA’s environmental protection priorities for 2026 focus on supporting the aviation sector’s transition toward lower emissions while maintaining strong regulatory oversight and compliance with international obligations,” the Authority said.
The Authority says this work is intended to position the country within emerging global SAF markets while contributing to aviation decarbonisation objectives.
As regulator, SACAA will also continue implementing Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) requirements under CORSIA. This includes oversight of airline emissions monitoring plans and ensuring emissions data is independently verified in line with ICAO requirements.
In a notable development, African Standards Certification (ASC) was approved this year as an ICAO-approved CORSIA verification body based in South Africa, only the second such body on the African continent.
“This strengthens regional capacity and provides airlines within South Africa and neighbouring states with improved access to accredited emissions verification services,” SACAA noted.
Looking ahead to 2050, the regulator sees itself as providing “both regulatory leadership and an enabling environment to support the sector’s transition toward lower-carbon operations”, including the safe adoption of emerging technologies and CORSIA-eligible fuels.
Environmental oversight at airports, particularly compliance with civil aviation regulations and national environmental legislation, also remains a priority.
Alignment with ICAO Annex 16
SACAA emphasised that ongoing alignment with ICAO’s environmental Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), contained in Annex 16, remains central to its mandate.
Amendments issued by ICAO are assessed and incorporated into South Africa’s Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) and Civil Aviation Technical Standards (CATS). These cover aircraft noise, engine emissions, aeroplane CO₂ standards and CORSIA implementation.
Beyond updating regulations, the Authority conducts surveillance, certification and approval activities to verify sector-wide compliance. This includes oversight of operator compliance with CORSIA MRV requirements and ensuring aircraft meet applicable emissions and noise certification standards.
SACAA says it works closely with airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and other government stakeholders to provide guidance and clarify regulatory expectations, supporting effective implementation of environmental protection measures.
State Action Plan in Development
South Africa’s State Action Plan (SAP) on aviation CO₂ emissions is currently under development, with SACAA collaborating with industry stakeholders across the aviation sector.
The SAP will outline measures South Africa intends to implement in support of ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) of achieving net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050. These measures include operational improvements, sustainable aviation fuel development, infrastructure initiatives and other emissions reduction strategies tailored to the national context.
Industry workshops have been conducted to introduce the SAP framework, gather sector data and validate information from operators and service providers. The next phase will focus on finalising the document and preparing it for submission to ICAO.
Engagement and the Road to 2050
Looking ahead, SACAA sees its role in the 2050 transition as providing regulatory leadership while enabling innovation.
This includes aligning national frameworks with evolving international standards, strengthening oversight of emissions management measures and supporting the safe adoption of emerging technologies and CORSIA-eligible fuels, including SAF.
The Authority also highlighted its coordination role working with industry stakeholders, government departments, research institutions and international partners to build technical capacity and support an integrated national approach to aviation decarbonisation.
As global industry bodies press for unified international action through ICAO, South Africa’s regulator appears focused on ensuring that national implementation keeps pace, balancing environmental responsibility with the sustainable growth of the country’s aviation sector.
