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Verra, one of the world's leading developers of carbon standards, has reached a significant milestone by applying the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) label to millions of voluntary carbon credits for the first time, with the majority of these credits from projects in Africa. CORSIA's implementation continues to make it one of the most relevant climate compliance mechanisms globally, as it mitigates emissions from one of the highest-emitting and hardest-to-abate sectors. This development connects the voluntary carbon market (VCM) directly with regulated demand from the aviation sector.
CORSIA is a global scheme created by ICAO to stabilize CO₂ emissions from international aviation at 2019 levels. The program was designed to address the "gap" in emissions that cannot be eliminated through sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) or technological innovations in aircraft design. Participation by countries and airlines is voluntary during the pilot phase (2021–2023) and first phase (2024–2026), but will be mandatory for most states from 2027 onwards.
To fulfil their CORSIA obligations, airlines must monitor, report, and offset any growth in their emissions above 85% of 2019 levels. This has led to increased demand for carbon credits that meet strict eligibility, environmental integrity, and transparency criteria. In December 2024, ICAO officially approved Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) program for use in CORSIA, extending its eligibility to the first phase of the scheme. Subsequently, Verra published specific CORSIA labelling guidance to facilitate technical and administrative compliance for project developers.
First CORSIA labels
Verra recently announced the issuance of the first CORSIA label for 4,776,194 voluntary carbon credits under the VCS program. These credits represent the first wave of supply ready for the aviation market, and come from projects in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Gambia led by the DelAgua Group. The projects are primarily categorized as clean cooking initiatives and household energy transitions.
These projects reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by reducing the use of traditional, polluting fuels. Additionally, these projects provide social benefits such as improved health, reduction of energy poverty, and support for local communities by drastically cutting the consumption of wood and charcoal, traditional, polluting fuels that contribute to deforestation and respiratory illness. The labeled credits are now identified in the Verra Registry, enabling airlines and other market participants in the initial CORSIA phase to use them to fulfill their offset obligations.
Beyond carbon sequestration, these projects offer a suite of measurable social and environmental impacts, including:
- Improved Public Health: Reducing indoor air pollution, which predominantly affects women and children.
- Economic Relief: Reducing the time and money spent by households on gathering or buying fuel.
- Biodiversity Protection: Slowing the rate of deforestation in sensitive African ecosystems by reducing wood fuel demand.
Verra expects to apply additional labels to other projects in the coming months, which suggests that the supply of eligible credits for the aviation sector will grow.
Article 6 and environmental safeguards
One of the key elements of this process is the application of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This article regulates the use of international mitigation results and avoids the double counting of emission reductions. According to CORSIA rules, all credits issued from 2021 onwards must have an Authorized Article 6 Label for International Mitigation Purposes to be eligible.
To ensure this requirement is met, Verra reviews the Letters of Authorization (LoA) of project host governments. These documents define key aspects, such as eligible emissions sources, authorized emission reduction volumes, and the terms under which credits can be used for international purposes. This process prevents emission reductions from being claimed simultaneously by host countries in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and by airlines using the credits to comply with CORSIA.
Mandy Rambharos, Verra’s CEO, highlighted the evolution of the organization’s role in the global market. “This is a practical example of how Verra infrastructure is evolving to meet global climate goals, supporting real-world action at scale”. Similarly, Euan McDougall, CEO of DelAgua, claimed this sentiment, noting that the milestone was the result of years of collaboration with governments, commitment to environmental integrity, and rigorous monitoring.
Implications for Aviation and the Carbon Market
The issuance of these initial labels establishes Verra as a leading provider of credits that align with CORSIA's technical specifications and market credibility standards. As the program transitions to its mandatory phase, the supply of high-integrity credits will be essential for the aviation industry to achieve its climate objectives.
This development also reinforces the role of socially impactful projects, such as clean cookstoves, showing that they can effectively integrate into regulated compliance markets. Finally, Verra's progress is a concrete step toward scaling credible climate action by aligning voluntary standards, international policies, and the real needs of the aviation sector.