Options for improving the emission unit eligibility criteria (EUCs) under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

The paper evaluates the current Emission Unit Eligibility Criteria (EUCs) for CORSIA, focusing on additionality, baselines, permanence, avoidance of double counting, and causing no net harm. While finding the current criteria mostly sufficient in conceptual coverage, the authors recommend detailed elaborations on program requirements and procedures to align with best practices. Key recommendations include excluding non-additional project types, requiring vetted methodologies for baselines, establishing 100-year permanence thresholds with buffer reserves, expanding the scope of double claiming, and implementing strict social and environmental safeguards.

• The current EUCs generally cover the basic conceptual elements of ICAO's carbon offset credit integrity assessment criteria, but they lack sufficient elaboration on the procedures and program requirements necessary to ensure these criteria are actually met.
• To improve additionality and baseline determination, the authors recommend excluding project types that are legally required or profitable without offset revenues, and requiring that baselines use vetted, program-approved methodologies with conservative parameters tailored to specific sectors and geographies.
• Regarding permanence, the paper suggests defining an ambitious 100-year threshold and requiring monitoring, mitigation, and compensation mechanisms, including buffer reserves where project owners are held liable for intentional reversals.
• To prevent double counting, the authors propose specifying procedures to avoid double issuance, use, and claiming, and expanding the definition of double claiming beyond host country claims to include other competing claims.
• To ensure 'no net harm', the paper recommends removing the word 'net' from the criteria and requiring programs to establish and follow a list of social and environmental safeguards.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2020). Options for improving the emission unit eligibility criteria (EUCs) under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/options-for-improving-the-emission-unit-eligibility-criteria-eucs-under-the

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Options for improving the emission unit eligibility criteria (EUCs) under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). 2020. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/options-for-improving-the-emission-unit-eligibility-criteria-eucs-under-the.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Options for improving the emission unit eligibility criteria (EUCs) under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) |date=4 May 2020 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/options-for-improving-the-emission-unit-eligibility-criteria-eucs-under-the |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2020options, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Options for improving the emission unit eligibility criteria (EUCs) under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/options-for-improving-the-emission-unit-eligibility-criteria-eucs-under-the}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }