Indonesia’s aviation emissions come from three interconnected domains: in-flight operations, airport activities, and airspace inefficiencies. Global climate obligations under the Paris Agreement (Law No. 16/2016) and ICAO’s LTAG demand quantifiable reductions. The three frameworks—CORSIA, ACA and GreenATM—offer the only internationally recognized pathway for compliance. Delayed adoption will harm Indonesia’s competitiveness, create regulatory exposure, undermine UNFCCC reporting, and weaken ASEAN leadership in aviation sustainability.
Introduction: The New Geography of Aviation Sustainability
The global aviation sector is undergoing a transformation unprecedented in scope and urgency. As the acceleration toward Net Zero Emissions by 2050 reshapes global norms, the aviation industry—long considered a hard-to-abate sector—is now directly in the spotlight. For decades, aviation was perceived as a domain focused primarily on safety, efficiency, and connectivity. Today, sustainability has ascended as the fourth and equally critical pillar.
Aviation contributes between two and three percent of global CO₂ emissions; however, ICAO and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change caution that aviation’s warming impact is substantially higher due to non-CO₂ effects such as nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), contrails, and water vapor, which intensify radiative forcing. As global demand for air travel continues to expand, the sector’s emissions trajectory threatens to outpace reductions achieved in other industries.
Indonesia finds itself at a strategic crossroads. As Southeast Asia’s largest aviation market—handling more than 270 million domestic passengers annually before the pandemic—the country’s reliance on air transport is deeply structural. The archipelagic nature of Indonesia means aviation is not merely a mode of travel; it is a national connective tissue. Yet this very characteristic also magnifies the country’s aviation-related emissions, intensifying the imperative for sustainability transformation.
Three global frameworks now form the backbone of international aviation decarbonization: CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), and GreenATM Accreditation.
These frameworks are no longer optional for States with ambitions of competitiveness, compliance, and regional leadership. For Indonesia, early adoption is not only a regulatory requirement but a strategic necessity.
The following longform analysis examines why Indonesia must urgently adopt and integrate these three frameworks; what each framework requires; the concrete actions necessary for airlines, airports, and AirNav Indonesia; and how these components can be harmonized within a single National Green Aviation Framework. It also demonstrates why delay would incur costs more severe than the cost of immediate action.
Aviation’s Climate Burden: Unpacking the Emissions Profile
It is common to associate aviation emissions primarily with aircraft flying at cruise altitude. Yet such a perception oversimplifies the complex emissions landscape of the aviation value chain. According to ICAO’s Aviation Environmental Protection Report (2022), aviation’s emissions profile can be broken down into several key segments:
- In-flight operations: 65–75 percent of emissions
This category includes fuel combustion during climb, cruise, and descent phases. Beyond CO₂, in-flight operations generate NOₓ, water vapor, contrails, and black carbon, which collectively contribute to radiative forcing. Crucially, contrail-induced cirrus clouds—often ignored in policy discussions—may contribute as much warming as CO₂ emissions themselves.
- Airport ground operations: 10–15 percent of emissions
Sources include:
• auxiliary power units (APUs),
• diesel-powered ground support equipment (GSE),
• fixed electrical ground power usage inefficiencies,
• terminal energy consumption, and
• passenger and cargo landside traffic.
Indonesian airports still rely heavily on diesel GSE, with limited electrification. Terminal buildings, many constructed decades ago, use energy-inefficient HVAC systems. A portion of airport landside traffic is poorly integrated with mass transit, exacerbating indirect emissions.
- Aviation value chain: 10–20 percent
This includes:
• aircraft manufacturing,
• supply chain logistics,
• airport construction,
• maintenance, and
• air traffic inefficiencies.
Indonesia’s aviation environment amplifies several of these factors. Jakarta’s terminal airspace is among the most congested in the region, with holding delays during peak periods regularly exceeding 15 minutes. Bali’s airspace faces similar challenges, particularly during holiday peaks. Many airports rely heavily on conventional energy sources due to limitations in renewable infrastructure.
In short, Indonesia’s aviation emissions are not only substantial; they are structurally embedded. Addressing them requires a systemic, integrated transformation across the entire aviation ecosystem.
Global Climate Obligations: The Legal and Diplomatic Imperatives
Indonesia’s commitment to climate action is codified through multiple binding instruments. The Paris Agreement, ratified as Law No. 16/2016, legally obligates Indonesia to pursue progressively ambitious emission reductions. Aviation is a critical component of this commitment, particularly in its international operations segment.
The adoption of the Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) by ICAO’s 41st Assembly in 2022 further escalates the global expectations for aviation decarbonization. LTAG commits all 193 ICAO Member States to achieving Net Zero Carbon Emissions for international aviation by 2050. Complementing LTAG is CORSIA, which began its pilot phase in 2021 and progressively mandates airline-level carbon monitoring, reporting, verification, and offsetting.
Indonesia, as a long-standing ICAO Council member, carries heightened diplomatic responsibility. Failure to align national aviation policy with LTAG and CORSIA obligations risks not only regulatory non-compliance but also geopolitical and economic consequences. International route access, global financing opportunities, and Indonesia’s standing within ICAO’s governance structures depend increasingly on its commitment and readiness to adopt these frameworks.
Why Early Adoption Offers Critical Strategic Advantages
Global aviation sustainability frameworks are consolidating rapidly, forcing States into early-mover or late-mover positions. Early movers gain:
- Regulatory certainty and ICAO credibility
States that adopt early are seen as responsible actors aligned with global norms, strengthening their influence within ICAO.
- Market competitiveness
Airlines increasingly prefer airports and airspace systems with verifiable sustainability metrics. This affects route planning and alliances.
- Access to green financing
Green bonds, transition bonds, and sustainability-linked loans are becoming dominant financing instruments for airport and aviation projects. Airports without clear decarbonization pathways risk losing funding.
- Economic and operational efficiency
Modern airspace design, electrification, and renewable energy integration reduce operating costs significantly.
- Climate diplomacy leverage
Indonesia can position itself as a climate leader in ASEAN, influencing regional aviation governance.
By contrast, late adopters face severe consequences:
• rising carbon liabilities,
• exclusion from green financial markets,
• loss of competitive advantage,
• diminished influence at ICAO,
• increased safety and efficiency risks from outdated infrastructure.
The cost of delay is far greater than the cost of action.
CORSIA — Building the Foundation of Airline Carbon Accountability
CORSIA, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, represents the world’s first global market-based mechanism dedicated to aviation emissions. Its purpose is straightforward: to cap emissions from international aviation at 2019 levels and manage future growth through carbon offsets, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and operational efficiency. For Indonesia, CORSIA is not merely an obligation—it is the cornerstone of carbon accountability within its airline sector.
What CORSIA Requires
At its core, CORSIA requires airlines to:
- Measure all CO₂ emissions from international flights with a standardized methodology.
- Report emissions annually to the national authority using approved templates.
- Verify emissions through independent third-party verification bodies accredited under ISO 14064.
- Offset emissions that exceed the baseline by purchasing carbon credits from approved programs.
As CORSIA shifts from voluntary to mandatory phases, the scope of offsetting will expand significantly. By 2027, nearly all international routes will fall under CORSIA’s obligations.
Indonesia currently participates under the voluntary phase but will enter the mandatory phase as part of ICAO’s global agreement.
Why CORSIA Matters for Indonesia
CORSIA provides Indonesia with multiple strategic advantages:
First, CORSIA aligns airlines with Indonesia’s broader climate obligations under the Paris Agreement and its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Aviation is a significant and internationally visible emissions source, and credible MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) systems help strengthen national transparency under the UNFCCC.
Second, CORSIA creates a competitive foundation for Indonesian airlines operating internationally. Many jurisdictions—particularly the EU—are moving toward more stringent climate-based market access conditions. Airlines unable to demonstrate emissions compliance risk facing commercial disadvantages or even operational barriers.
Third, CORSIA incentivizes early adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). With offset prices expected to rise sharply by 2030, SAF will become increasingly attractive as a compliance strategy. Indonesia, with its abundant biofuel resources, could gain a global advantage.
How Indonesia Must Implement CORSIA
To fully operationalize CORSIA, Indonesia must take several concrete steps:
- Build a Robust National MRV System
A strong MRV system requires:
- clear data submission requirements for airlines
• digitalized emissions reporting platforms
• secure databases for storing emissions inventories
• independent verification mechanisms
Without a robust MRV architecture, Indonesia risks non-compliance and weak data integrity.
- Strengthen Airline Operational Efficiency
Airlines must enhance their fuel efficiency strategies through:
- route optimization
• fleet modernization (e.g., replacing older aircraft with more efficient models)
• weight reduction initiatives
• improved dispatch practices
• continuous descent operations where possible
Each percentage improvement in fuel efficiency reduces both emissions and costs.
- Develop a National SAF Roadmap
Indonesia possesses significant feedstock potential—palm waste, municipal waste, agricultural residues—yet lacks large-scale SAF production. A national SAF consortium involving Pertamina, airlines, Kemenhub, and KLHK could accelerate:
- pilot SAF production
• certification processes
• blending mandates
• pricing mechanisms
• regional partnerships
Without SAF readiness, Indonesia’s airlines will spend billions on offsets by 2030.
- Build the Institutional Ecosystem
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation must coordinate among:
• airlines
• verifier bodies
• Ministry of Environment and Forestry
• Energy ministry and biofuel producers
• international regulators
CORSIA is complex; institutional fragmentation will inhibit effective implementation.
- Prepare for Rising Carbon Prices
Offsets currently cost around USD 2–8 per ton but are projected to increase to USD 20–40 or more by 2035. Airlines must plan pricing strategies, cost pass-through models, and hedging mechanisms to manage financial exposure.
Without preparation, airlines will face sudden cost shocks that jeopardize profitability.
CORSIA, therefore, is not merely a compliance item—it represents a structural transformation of Indonesia’s airline industry.
ACA — Airport Carbon Accreditation and the Transformation of Airport Sustainability
Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), developed by Airports Council International (ACI), is the global benchmark for airport decarbonization. It provides a structured, multi-level pathway for airports to measure, manage, and reduce carbon emissions across their operations.
For Indonesia’s major airports, ACA represents not only an environmental obligation but also a competitive necessity.
What ACA Requires
ACA is structured into ascending levels, each reflecting greater maturity:
Level 1 — Mapping:
Airports must quantify their carbon footprint, identify emission sources, and create a baseline inventory.
Level 2 — Reduction:
Airports must demonstrate actual reductions through energy efficiency, renewable energy, or operational improvements.
Level 3 — Optimization:
Airports must engage stakeholders—airlines, GSE operators, tenants, ground handlers—to reduce broader scope emissions.
Level 3+ — Neutrality:
Airports offset remaining emissions to achieve carbon neutrality within their direct operations.
Level 4 — Transformation:
Airports must align with global climate targets and demonstrate systemic decarbonization through governance and planning.
Level 4+ — Transition:
Airports must show alignment with global Net Zero pathways, integrating climate risks, resilience planning, and comprehensive operational transformation.
Why ACA Matters for Indonesia
ACA provides several strategic benefits:
- Modernizing Indonesia’s Airport Infrastructure
Airports consume substantial energy, and utility costs are climbing. ACA allows airports to adopt:
• solar energy
• energy management systems
• electrified GSE
• terminal cooling optimization
• LED and smart lighting systems
These measures reduce emissions and significantly reduce operating costs.
- Strengthening International Competitiveness
Carriers increasingly consider environmental performance when selecting hubs. Airports that show decarbonization leadership attract more airlines and routes. - Accessing Climate Finance
Global financiers now prefer green-certified airports for infrastructure loans, bonds, and PPP projects. ACA enhances credibility in securing green financing. - Aligning with Indonesia’s National Energy Policy
Under Presidential Regulation No. 98/2021 and the National Energy Policy (RUEN/RUKN), airports are expected to reduce fossil fuel dependence. ACA directly supports these mandates.
How Indonesia Must Implement ACA
To implement ACA across major airports, Indonesia must focus on:
- Comprehensive Airport Energy Transition
Airports must:
• install rooftop solar PV
• upgrade cooling systems with high-efficiency models
• electrify ground operations through e-GSE
• restrict APU usage with fixed electrical ground power
• modernize HVAC and terminal ventilation systems
Energy transition is the biggest lever for reducing airport emissions.
- Digital Energy Management
Airports must deploy:
• real-time energy monitoring systems
• predictive load optimization
• smart building controls
Digitalization enables continuous efficiency gains.
- Operational Coordination with Airlines
Indonesia must implement:
• collaborative decision-making (A-CDM)
• faster turnarounds
• optimized taxi times
• gate allocation that reduces fuel burn
These measures directly support ACA Level 3 and 3+.
- Integrate ACA into the National Airport Policy
The Ministry of Transportation must require:
• mandatory ACA Level 1 for all international airports by 2026
• Level 2 for major hubs by 2028
• Level 3+ for Soekarno-Hatta and Bali by 2030
Without regulatory direction, adoption will be uneven and slow.
- Build Airport-Wide Climate Governance
Each airport must establish a Green Airport Task Force involving:
• airport operators
• tenants
• airlines
• handlers
• concessionaires
• energy providers
ACA requires coordination beyond the operator alone.
ACA, therefore, is more than a certification—it is a vehicle for transforming Indonesia’s airport infrastructure into modern, competitive, and climate-aligned assets.
GreenATM — The Missing Link in Indonesia’s Aviation Decarbonization
GreenATM, launched by CANSO in 2022, is the least familiar of the three frameworks but arguably the most powerful. It focuses on air traffic management—the domain that governs how aircraft move through the sky.
What GreenATM Requires
GreenATM evaluates and certifies ANSPs based on:
• airspace design efficiency
• performance-based navigation (PBN)
• continuous descent/climb operations
• fuel-efficient vectoring
• trajectory-based operations
• digital ATM systems
• weather data integration
• collaborative flow management
• reduced holding and ground delays
These elements reflect the operational heart of emissions reductions.
Why GreenATM Matters for Indonesia
GreenATM is strategically critical for several reasons:
- Airspace Inefficiencies Are Indonesia’s Largest Avoidable Emissions Source
Indonesia has one of the world’s largest FIRs. Holding patterns in Jakarta and Bali, outdated vectoring, and mixed civil–military airspace produces massive unnecessary fuel burn. - GreenATM Yields Immediate Gains
Unlike SAF or green airport infrastructure, which require years of investment, airspace efficiency improvements produce immediate emission reductions. - GreenATM Supports Indonesia’s Diplomacy
As a regional airspace steward, Indonesia’s implementation of GreenATM enhances:
- ASEAN airspace cooperation
• cross-border efficiency
• regional traffic management
• global perception of Indonesia as a responsible aviation state
- GreenATM Aligns with LTAG
ICAO’s LTAG emphasizes operational efficiency as one of the fastest ways to reduce emissions. GreenATM is the operational tool to achieve it.
How Indonesia Must Implement GreenATM
GreenATM implementation requires:
- Airspace Redesign for Efficiency
Indonesia must redesign key airspace regions:
• Jakarta TMA
• Bali TMA
• Java–Sumatra corridors
• Papua high-altitude sectors
Airspace modernization should include:
• more direct routing
• optimized arrival/departure flows
• standardized PBN procedures
• reduced vectoring
- Civil–Military Coordination
Airspace segregation creates bottlenecks. Indonesia must institutionalize:
• shared use of training airspace
• flexible use airspace agreements
• joint civil–military airspace committees
- Digital ATM Infrastructure
AirNav Indonesia must deploy:
• SWIM (System-Wide Information Management)
• TBO (Trajectory-Based Operations)
• advanced ATFM platforms
• integrated weather systems
Digital aviation is the backbone of GreenATM.
- Strengthening Human Capital
Indonesia must develop new roles:
• airspace designers
• ATM data analysts
• flow management specialists
• digital operations engineers
Without advanced human capital, GreenATM cannot be achieved.
- Regional Coordination
Indonesia must collaborate with:
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Australia
• Philippines
Cross-border efficiency reduces emissions on international corridors.
GreenATM is, therefore, the most transformative framework Indonesia has yet to adopt.
Integrating the Frameworks: A National Green Aviation Framework (NGAF)
CORSIA, ACA, and GreenATM are interdependent. Implementing them separately would produce suboptimal results. Indonesia must adopt a unified, systemic approach: the National Green Aviation Framework (NGAF).
Key components of NGAF
- Policy integration
CORSIA MRV integrated with ACA data and GreenATM metrics. - Institutional coordination
DJPU, AirNav Indonesia, Angkasa Pura Indonesia, Pertamina, KLHK, and BMKG must have interoperable data systems. - Financing alignment
PR 98/2021 provides a legal foundation for carbon pricing and offsets. - Data infrastructure
A Digital Aviation Emissions Dashboard combining MRV, airport energy data, and ATM flows. - Human capital development
Introduce sustainability competencies in licensing for airlines, airports, and ANSP staff. - Regional diplomacy
Indonesia must lead ASEAN in green aviation standards.
NGAF would be ASEAN’s first integrated green aviation governance system.
A Green Sky Corridor for Indonesia
Indonesia should launch a flagship initiative: the Indonesia Green Sky Corridor, connecting Jakarta, Bali, Makassar, Surabaya, and Medan with:
• optimized low-emission routes,
• SAF-powered flights,
• CDO/PBN-enabled procedures,
• ACA Level 3+ airports,
• coordinated ATM sequencing.
Such a corridor strengthens Indonesia’s international branding, demonstrates LTAG alignment, and frames Indonesia as a regional pioneer.
Integrating CORSIA–ACA–GreenATM into One Cohesive System
The true transformation emerges when the three frameworks are integrated.
CORSIA + GreenATM = Efficient Airlines
MRV + airspace efficiency → reduced fuel burn.
SAF + optimized routing → lower emissions and lower operating costs.
ACA + GreenATM = Efficient Airports and Airspace
Airport energy transition + TMA efficiency → reduced ground and air emissions.
E-GSE + optimized taxiing → reduced fuel burn during ground operations.
CORSIA + ACA + GreenATM = National Competitiveness
Integrated decarbonization across the ecosystem → better market access, improved diplomacy, and stronger economic resilience.
Indonesia must not treat these frameworks separately—they reinforce each other.
The Strategic Cost of Delay
Delaying adoption creates cascading repercussions:
• higher carbon offset costs for airlines,
• declining airport attractiveness,
• loss of green financing access,
• increased operational inefficiencies,
• negative international scrutiny,
• reduced ASEAN leadership.
Inaction is expensive, risky, and strategically regressive.
Conclusion: A Leadership Opportunity Indonesia Cannot Miss
Indonesia stands at a critical juncture. The road to Net Zero 2050 will be defined by States that move early, integrate effectively, and innovate relentlessly. As a major aviation market and an ICAO Council member, Indonesia must embrace this moment.
By adopting CORSIA, Airport Carbon Accreditation, and GreenATM within a unified National Green Aviation Framework, Indonesia can strengthen regulatory credibility, enhance economic resilience, modernize its aviation infrastructure, and position itself as the green aviation leader of Southeast Asia.
The sky is no longer just a domain of movement. It is the frontier where climate responsibility, national competitiveness, and technological innovation converge. Indonesia must act decisively, cohesively, and without delay.
If it does, Indonesia will not only participate in the global transition.
It will help define it.
References
ICAO. Aviation Environmental Protection Report (2022).
ICAO. Long-Term Aspirational Goal, Assembly 41 (2022).
ICAO. CORSIA Implementation Elements (2021–2024).
IPCC. Aviation and the Global Atmosphere (2021–2023).
CANSO. GreenATM Accreditation Programme (2022).
Airports Council International. ACA Annual Report (2023).
IATA. Net Zero Carbon 2050 Roadmap (2022).
Republic of Indonesia. Law No. 16/2016.
Republic of Indonesia. Presidential Regulation No. 98/2021.
