On April 20, 2026, AEB’s Sustainability, Energy and Aviation committees met to jointly discuss CORSIA (carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation) – a standard adopted by International Civil Aviation Organization. 

Roman Ishmukhametov, Chairman of the AEB Sustainability Committee and Senior Associate at Melling, Voitishkin & Partners, and Armen Tadevosyan, AEB Advisor on AEB Energy Agenda Strategic Development, moderated the discussion. Vadim Besperstov, Chairman of the AEB Aviation Committee and Managing Director of Emirates in Russia and the CIS, welcomed the audience on behalf of aviation committee.

Speakers from Kept, Aeroflot, Gazprom Neft, Earthhood, Kontur, Ecoway and Center for Sustainable Technologies Development (CSDT) participated in the discussion.

Some takeaways:

There is some uncertainty as whether some of the world’s leading economies (US, China and India) are to actually participate in CORSIA. However, it is almost certain that CORSIA is to shape Russia’s aviation market, as well as the opportunities for Russian sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon markets;

Russian authorities, Kontur (Russian carbon registry operator) and business are putting lots of efforts to ensure that carbon credits of Russian origin become CORSIA eligible. It’s important to keep an eye on how ICAO responds to Russia’s application to get its national climate program accredited for CORSIA purposes; 

CORSIA may be a trigger for new high-quality climate projects to be implemented on the Russian soil – generating “premium” carbon credits;

There are landmark SAF projects and deals internationally, as well as some pioneering SAF projects in Russia;

Businesses operating in Russia should explore opportunities for such deals as well. In particular, businesses may study legal and commercial feasibility of (i) entering into long term offtake agreements in respect of both SAF and carbon future (yet to be issued) credits and (ii) doing so acting in concert of multiple buyers to maximize cash flows for project developers – to scale and ensure bankability of such projects.