Sustainable Aviation Fuel — UPSC Mains Model Answer

CORSIA's sustainability criteria require SAF to achieve a minimum 10% lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction compared to the fossil jet fuel baseline of 89 gCO₂e/MJ. This lifecycle assessment covers feedstock cultivation, processing, and combustion, ensuring genuine emissions savings rather than accounting shifts. The threshold is widely regarded as a floor, with many SAF pathways achieving reductions of 50–80%.

SAF feedstock production must not displace High Conservation Value areas, High Carbon Stock forests, or wetlands — a criterion directly addressing indirect land-use change risks. This safeguard prevents a scenario where biofuel expansion drives deforestation, negating aviation's climate gains. Certification schemes such as ISCC and RSB are recognised under CORSIA to verify compliance.

CORSIA's sustainability criteria do not include local air quality improvement as a formal requirement. While SAF generally reduces particulate matter and sulphur emissions, this benefit is incidental rather than a mandated criterion. Conflating air quality standards with CORSIA's GHG-focused framework misrepresents the scheme's scope.

Voluntary offsetting under CORSIA Phase 1 limits ambition, and feedstock availability constrains SAF scaling. Developing nations hosting feedstock supply chains face governance challenges in enforcing land-use protections, requiring capacity-building alongside market mechanisms.