When the international community, through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), adopted the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) in 2016, it was more than just another environmental regulation—it was a symbolic departure from business-as-usual for one of the fastest-growing contributors to global emissions. For a country like Indonesia, where aviation serves as a critical lifeline connecting thousands of islands and enabling global economic integration, CORSIA represents both a regulatory obligation and an opportunity to redefine sustainability in aviation.
From Consensus to Commitment: Understanding CORSIA’s Origins
CORSIA was born out of a paradox. Aviation, once seen primarily as a vector of development, has become a significant source of carbon emissions. Yet, unlike land-based sectors, international aviation remained largely outside the purview of climate agreements like the Kyoto Protocol or the Paris Accord. CORSIA filled this gap.
Indonesia, a member of ICAO, did not just sign up as a formality. Our participation stemmed from a genuine awareness that climate vulnerability is not theoretical. Rising sea levels, disrupted weather patterns, and environmental degradation already impact our archipelagic nation. The aviation sector could not be exempt from the collective responsibility to act.
Readiness Begins with People: The Manpower Behind the Mandate
One of the least discussed, yet most crucial, elements of CORSIA implementation is people. Not just policymakers drafting regulations, but the frontline actors—airline operations officers, environmental auditors, data analysts, legal experts—tasked with turning policy into practice.
Indonesia’s aviation sector is no stranger to adaptation. Over the years, it has responded to shifting security protocols, passenger safety reforms, and digital transformation. However, climate policy presents a different challenge. It requires a convergence of environmental literacy, regulatory clarity, and financial acumen—skills not traditionally bundled into aviation training.
To meet this challenge, several major carriers began internalizing sustainability as a core competency. Sustainability units were established, staff trained to monitor emissions, and dialogue opened with government regulators. But the learning curve remains steep, especially for mid-tier and smaller carriers less resourced than their flagship counterparts.
On the government side, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had to rapidly build its institutional capacity. It was not simply a matter of issuing compliance guidelines; it involved setting up national data reporting protocols, coordinating with ICAO’s global registry, and accrediting third-party verifiers capable of assessing carbon offsets under evolving international criteria.
Interdependence in Action: The Stakeholder Web
CORSIA’s implementation does not unfold in a vacuum. It reveals a deeply interconnected ecosystem. Airlines depend on verifiers to validate their emissions reports. Verifiers need clear standards from regulators. Regulators, in turn, must interface with ICAO and global offset credit markets. And all actors rely on accessible knowledge and sustained institutional memory to ensure continuity.
Coordination mechanisms began emerging, albeit organically. Roundtable discussions led by industry associations became forums for practical exchange. Some universities began offering modules on sustainable aviation policy. International partners contributed technical assistance. Yet, these efforts still lack integration. What’s missing is a formalized national platform that brings together regulators, operators, financiers, academia, and civil society in an ongoing dialogue—not only to interpret rules, but to shape a shared vision of low-carbon aviation.
Beyond Metrics: Output, Outcomes, and the Meaning of Progress
Progress in CORSIA is often measured in tonnes of carbon offset and credits purchased. But these figures, while important, tell only part of the story. The more consequential outcome is the slow but steady mainstreaming of climate consciousness in a sector historically dominated by efficiency metrics.
Within some airlines, emission monitoring is no longer just a reporting function—it’s becoming part of route planning and fuel management. In the regulator’s office, sustainability is no longer the responsibility of a single directorate—it’s increasingly cross-cutting. For many younger professionals entering aviation, CORSIA is their first encounter with environmental governance—seeding a new culture that blends operational excellence with ecological accountability.
Still, outcomes remain uneven. Implementation is heavily reliant on a few committed individuals and institutions. When these champions rotate out or face institutional fatigue, continuity suffers. There is a risk that CORSIA becomes a compliance checkbox rather than a catalyst for transformation.
The Tough Conversations: Unpacking the Challenges
Every meaningful reform is accompanied by resistance, uncertainty, and trade-offs. CORSIA is no different.
Some airlines express concern over the unpredictability of offset credit markets—prices fluctuate, and eligibility criteria can shift. For others, especially those recovering from pandemic-related losses, the added financial burden feels misaligned with their current fiscal realities.
On the verification side, the lack of domestic capacity means relying on a handful of approved firms—often at significant cost. The risk of bottlenecks, or worse, compromised quality, is real. Moreover, gaps in technical expertise and a fragmented data landscape make accurate emissions reporting a persistent challenge.
But perhaps the most systemic challenge is one of governance. Indonesia’s climate policy is spread across multiple ministries—transport, energy, environment, finance—each with its own priorities. Without a coherent national framework that links CORSIA with our broader climate goals (including Nationally Determined Contributions and net-zero targets), efforts may remain siloed, reactive, and ultimately less effective.
Charting the Path Ahead: What Needs to Happen
If Indonesia is to move from compliance to climate leadership in aviation, a few critical steps must be prioritized.
First, investing in human capital must be more than a slogan. Building climate literacy within the aviation sector—from pilots and engineers to policy advisors and accountants—requires structured training pipelines. It is here that international collaboration plays a vital role. The ICAO Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for CORSIA (ACT-CORSIA) programme has already been instrumental in helping States—including Indonesia—build internal capacities to meet CORSIA’s requirements. ACT-CORSIA facilitates knowledge transfer, workshops, and practical tools that enable regulators and operators to interpret and implement ICAO standards effectively.
This initiative embodies the best of ICAO’s No Country Left Behind vision—a commitment to ensure that developing countries are not sidelined in global regulatory transitions. Indonesia has benefitted from this collaborative approach, and moving forward, deepening our engagement with ACT-CORSIA will be critical, especially as the scheme transitions from a voluntary phase to full compliance by 2027.
Second, institutional continuity must be prioritized over ad-hocism- A tendency to address issues through temporary, unstructured, and often reactive measures without a long-term strategy or institutional continuity. Creating dedicated, permanent CORSIA units within Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), supported by inter-ministerial task forces, would ensure implementation is not disrupted by changes in personnel or policy direction.
Third, innovation in compliance mechanisms—from digital offset tracking platforms to early experimentation with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) frameworks—can position Indonesia as a thought leader among developing aviation markets. These innovations can also help reduce compliance costs and increase transparency.
Fourth, a formal national CORSIA forum would help align diverse actors—airlines, regulators, verifiers, academic institutions, financial players, and community stakeholders—into a unified conversation. This forum could serve as a platform for sharing updates, co-designing solutions, and aligning with broader climate and development strategies.
Fifth, wherever possible, offset mechanisms should be linked to local co-benefits. Prioritizing offset projects in Indonesia—such as forest conservation, renewable energy, or peatland restoration—ensures that the economic value of CORSIA contributes directly to local sustainability and job creation, instead of flowing outward through imported credits.
Toward an Aviation Sector That Leads by Example
CORSIA may have originated as a top-down global framework, but its success will depend on how meaningfully it is localized. In Indonesia, the scheme can be more than a compliance obligation—it can become a compass that guides aviation into a low-emission future.
To get there, we must treat CORSIA not just as a technical instrument, but as a strategic opportunity to redefine what sustainable aviation means in an archipelagic, rapidly growing economy. It is a chance to rethink how we train aviation professionals, how we collaborate across sectors, and how we balance growth with responsibility.
With the continued support of ICAO, particularly through ACT-CORSIA, and with our own commitment to capacity-building, inclusive dialogue, and innovation, Indonesia can lead not only in participation—but in shaping the narrative of climate-resilient aviation in the Global South.
In the end, the path forward demands more than policy—it demands partnership, purpose, and persistence. Above all, it demands that no country, no region, and no citizen be left behind in the skies of tomorrow.
