Japan Airlines (JAL) has signed a purchase agreement with Climeworks Solutions for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits designed to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) standards.
The transaction marks the world’s first corporate purchase agreement for CORSIA-compliant carbon removal credits, establishing a mechanism for engineered and nature-based removal pathways to enter international aviation compliance frameworks.
Under the agreement, Climeworks Solutions will supply JAL with a multi-pathway CDR portfolio structured to fulfill ICAO CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs) requirements, incorporating approaches such as biochar and soil carbon sequestration. Concurrently, JAL will purchase direct credits from Climeworks’ Direct Air Capture (DAC) facilities to support scalable engineered carbon removal development.
Key operational metrics and strategic elements include:
- Compliance integration: Sourcing of ICAO CORSIA EEUs to address residual international flight emissions that cannot be mitigated solely via operational efficiency or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
- Portfolio diversification: Combined procurement encompassing nature-based removals alongside high-durability DAC technologies.
- Decarbonisation hierarchy: Procurement complements JAL’s broader operational decarbonisation strategy, which prioritises fleet renewal, flight path optimisation, and expanded SAF blending.
Noriko Ogawa, Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Sustainability Promotion Committee at Japan Airlines, stated: “As the first airline to secure CORSIA-compliant carbon removals, we are proud to lead the industry toward net-zero emissions. While reducing emissions through aircraft renewal, operational innovations and the use of SAF remains our top priority, high-integrity carbon removals are essential to address residual emissions. Through this pioneering partnership with Climeworks, we aim to accelerate the adoption of high-quality solutions across international aviation and contribute to a sustainable future for air travel.”
Adrian Siegrist, Chief Commercial Officer at Climeworks, added: “This agreement with JAL represents an important milestone not only for aviation, but for the wider carbon removal industry. Earlier this year, Climeworks Solutions expanded its offering to help organizations procure carbon removal portfolios aligned with emerging compliance frameworks, including CORSIA. This agreement demonstrates how carbon removal is increasingly moving from voluntary climate action into compliance markets.”
