The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the creation of a new organization to manage its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry. This move is part of a broader effort to promote the use of alternative aviation fuels and accelerate the industry’s decarbonization goals. The SAF Registry is designed to provide a standardized and transparent method for tracking the use of SAF, allowing airlines, governments, and other stakeholders to monitor and report on the emission reductions achieved through the use of these fuels.
The newly established Civil Aviation Decarbonisation Organisation (CADO) will take the lead in overseeing the SAF Registry, which is expected to play a vital role in driving the growth of the SAF market. IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, emphasized the importance of the SAF Registry as a critical component of market infrastructure that will help establish a global, transparent, and liquid market for SAF. He stated that the creation of CADO and the development of the registry should inspire governments, fossil fuel producers, and investors to engage more actively in the SAF market, aligning with the industry’s decarbonization objectives.
According to Walsh, increasing the production of alternative fuels is a shared goal among industry stakeholders, and the formation of CADO marks a significant step in advancing the decarbonization agenda. By managing the SAF Registry, CADO will play a key role in ensuring that airlines and corporate customers can accurately track the environmental benefits of using alternative fuels. This will allow airlines to claim emission reductions under regulatory frameworks and voluntary schemes, including reductions in Scope 3 emissions from business travel.
The SAF Registry will also serve as an important tool for companies seeking to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. By providing a transparent and verifiable system for tracking SAF usage, the registry will help build trust among all parties involved, including governments, fuel producers, and investors. This approach is expected to foster greater collaboration and innovation within the SAF sector, accelerating the transition to more sustainable aviation practices.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Economist, highlighted that CADO would operate as a separate entity from IATA, ensuring an open and global approach that encourages scrutiny and transparency. The inclusive nature of CADO means that any stakeholder in the SAF value chain, including governments, will have the opportunity to join and contribute to the development of the registry. This collaborative approach is seen as essential for harmonizing the principles governing SAF registries and ensuring that the industry moves forward in a unified direction.
Initially, participation in the SAF Registry will be free of charge until April 2027, after which IATA plans to operate the registry on a cost recovery basis. This model is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the registry while maintaining its accessibility to a wide range of stakeholders. The launch of the SAF Registry and the establishment of CADO represent a major step in the aviation industry’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote the use of sustainable fuels that can help mitigate climate change.
As the world continues to face the challenges of climate change, the aviation industry’s commitment to decarbonization will be critical in achieving global environmental goals. The SAF Registry initiative, managed by CADO, is an important part of this ongoing effort, providing a framework for the transparent and accountable use of sustainable aviation fuels that can help drive the sector toward a more sustainable future.
