This article is based on an official press release from ICAO.

ICAO and IATA Deepen Cooperation to Boost Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tracking

On June 2, 2026, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced an enhanced partnership during the ICAO Aviation Climate Week in Montreal. According to an official press release from ICAO, the collaboration is designed to advance transparency and integrity in tracking the progress, development, and deployment of SAF.

The global aviation sector has formally committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Industry estimates indicate that SAF is the most significant decarbonization lever currently available, expected to account for up to 65 percent of the total carbon mitigation required to reach this mid-century target. The joint announcement underscores that close collaboration between industry and states, supported by high-quality data, is essential for credible tracking of cleaner aviation energies.

This strategic alignment was unveiled during the “One Global Path: Advancing Net-Zero Aviation” conference, which serves as a global platform for aviation leaders to monitor progress on the ICAO Global Framework for SAF. By integrating robust tracking systems, both organizations aim to ensure that climate investments are recognized consistently across international regulatory frameworks.

Enhancing Transparency and Global Tracking

The Role of the CADO SAF Registry

A central component of this enhanced tracking initiative involves the evaluation of existing fuel accounting systems. According to supplementary industry research, IATA and ICAO will explore how platforms like the SAF Registry can support international reporting. Launched in March 2025 and now managed by the independent, Montreal-based Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO), the registry is designed to record SAF transactions accurately and transparently.

Because physical SAF supply is not yet available at all geographical locations, the registry utilizes a “Book and Claim” approach. This system decouples the physical fuel from its environmental attributes, allowing airlines and corporate customers to claim the environmental benefits of SAF without physically loading it into their specific aircraft. This methodology is critical for preventing double-counting and ensuring immutable tracking of emissions reductions.

Aligning with ICAO Frameworks

The press release notes that the organizations agreed to explore how SAF registries and their collected data can support the implementation of ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) Monitoring and Reporting (LMR) methodology. Furthermore, the data collected through these robust systems helps airlines meet international regulatory obligations, such as ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), by providing verifiable emissions reduction data to state authorities.

Industry Leadership Perspectives

Leadership from both organizations emphasized the necessity of verifiable data to build trust and accelerate the transition away from conventional jet fuel. In the official release, IATA Director General Willie Walsh highlighted the importance of accurate measurement:

“Credible tracking is necessary to know the emissions reductions delivered by SAF. The data collected by the CADO SAF Registry, among others, has the potential to meet this need. By working with ICAO to strengthen how progress on SAF use is measured and reported, we can accelerate deployment, build trust across stakeholders, and put aviation on track for net zero by 2050. This will set a great example for individual states to work with industry to make the most of the SAF data that is being accumulated.”

Willie Walsh, IATA Director General

Echoing this sentiment, ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar pointed to the unprecedented level of coordination required to meet the industry’s mid-century climate goals:

“Achieving ICAO’s vision of net zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050 will require unprecedented levels of transparency and cooperation across the entire sector. This agreement will support the strengthening of ICAO’s leadership as we support States and industry in their scaling up of sustainable aviation fuels and other aviation cleaner energies.”

Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General

Overcoming Supply Challenges and Market Implications

Current Production Realities

Despite the critical role of SAF in decarbonizing air travel, production volumes have historically lagged behind demand. According to industry data, SAF accounted for just 0.3 percent of global jet fuel production at the end of 2024. Scaling up production remains the primary bottleneck for the Commercial-Aircraft sector, making the efficient allocation and tracking of existing supplies paramount.

To build trust and ensure impartial governance over these limited supplies, IATA spun off the management of the SAF Registry to CADO in early 2025. CADO’s inclusive structure allows participation from governments, fuel producers, airlines, and corporate customers, fostering a harmonized global market.

AirPro News analysis

We view the deepening cooperation between ICAO and IATA as a necessary maturation of the SAF market. By standardizing how environmental attributes are tracked and claimed, this partnership helps create a liquid, global market for sustainable fuels. This standardization provides certainty to airlines that their environmental claims are valid, and assures producers that they can accurately account for deliveries. Ultimately, a unified, credible tracking system mitigates the risk of greenwashing, ensuring that corporate Scope 3 emissions reporting and airline compliance claims are backed by immutable, verified data. This regulatory certainty is exactly what investors need to fund the massive scale-up in SAF production facilities required over the next two decades.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the CADO SAF Registry?

The CADO SAF Registry is an independent platform launched in March 2025 to accurately and transparently record Sustainable Aviation Fuel transactions. It is managed by the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization, a Montreal-based non-profit.

What is the “Book and Claim” approach?

The “Book and Claim” system allows airlines and corporate customers to purchase the environmental benefits of SAF even if the physical fuel is not available at their specific departure airport. The physical fuel is used elsewhere in the aviation system, but the environmental credit is securely tracked and claimed by the purchaser, preventing double-counting.

Why is SAF critical for aviation’s net-zero goals?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is considered the most viable near-term solution for reducing aviation emissions, as it can be used in existing aircraft engines. Industry projections estimate that SAF will need to provide up to 65 percent of the carbon mitigation required for the aviation sector to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Sources: ICAO