ICAO Updates CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (CEEUs): What Aircraft Operators Need to Know

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has published an updated overview of CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (CEEUs), providing aircraft operators with greater transparency on the carbon credits currently approved for use under the 2024–2026 First Phase of CORSIA.

The publication includes approved programme registries, host countries, quantities of eligible emissions units issued, and an interactive global map illustrating where these units originate. The information is extracted directly from the public registries of ICAO-approved emissions unit programmes.

What Are CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units?

CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (CEEUs) are carbon credits issued by emissions unit programmes that have been approved by the ICAO Council to supply units for CORSIA compliance. Each eligible unit represents one tonne of verified greenhouse gas emissions reduction or removal and may be cancelled by aircraft operators to meet their CORSIA offsetting obligations.

Unlike voluntary carbon credits, only ICAO-approved emissions units that satisfy the CORSIA Emissions Unit Eligibility Criteria may be used for compliance under the scheme.

ICAO Overview as of 30 June 2026

Why Is This Update Important?

The publication provides visibility into the current supply of ICAO-approved emissions units that aircraft operators may use to satisfy their CORSIA offsetting obligations. It also helps airlines understand which programme registries are currently approved and the quantity of eligible units available within each programme.

As airlines prepare for future compliance cycles, monitoring the availability of eligible emissions units becomes increasingly important for procurement planning and compliance risk management.

Availability Does Not Automatically Mean Eligibility

Although more than 38 million CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units have been issued, operators should recognise that not every carbon credit available on the voluntary market can be used for CORSIA compliance.

To qualify under CORSIA, emissions units must satisfy ICAO eligibility criteria, originate from an approved programme, comply with applicable programme requirements, and be supported by the necessary registry documentation and, where applicable, host country authorisation.

Key Takeaways

• 1ICAO currently reports more than 38 million CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units issued across approved programmes.
• 2Only ICAO-approved emissions units may be used to satisfy CORSIA offsetting obligations.
• 3Aircraft operators should perform due diligence before purchasing carbon credits for compliance.
• 4Programme eligibility, registry documentation, and applicable eligibility conditions should all be verified before procurement.
• 5Early procurement planning can reduce compliance risks and improve cost certainty.

What Does This Mean for Aircraft Operators?

Meeting CORSIA offsetting obligations requires more than simply purchasing carbon credits. Operators must ensure the emissions units they procure remain eligible under ICAO requirements and are supported by sufficient documentation for verification and regulatory review.

Developing a structured procurement strategy, maintaining a clear audit trail, and understanding the evolving list of ICAO-approved programmes can help airlines reduce compliance risk while improving confidence during verification.

How Emissence Can Help

At Emissence, we support aircraft operators throughout the entire CORSIA compliance lifecycle. Our expertise includes assessing offsetting obligations, reviewing emissions calculations, providing guidance on ICAO-approved Eligible Emissions Units (CEEUs), supporting carbon credit procurement strategies, reviewing supporting documentation, and preparing organisations for independent verification.

Need support with CORSIA offsetting, Eligible Emissions Units, or verification readiness? Contact the Emissence team at connect@emissence.com.