More than 1.5 million carbon credits from an energy-efficient cookstove initiative in Malawi have been verified as eligible under Phase One of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) — marking a milestone for Africa in global carbon markets. Each credit represents one tonne of avoided carbon emissions.
Developed by Hestian, the project has distributed biomass cookstoves to rural households across Malawi. The stoves cut emissions by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, while improving household health by lowering smoke exposure and making cooking faster and more efficient.
CORSIA, agreed in 2016 by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), requires airlines in 129 countries to monitor and report their emissions, and to offset any growth beyond 2020 levels by purchasing verified carbon credits.
This Malawi initiative is only the second project worldwide to issue credits deemed eligible for use under CORSIA’s first phase, and the first from the African continent.
“The Government of Malawi and Hestian have shown remarkable leadership, proving that local climate action can deliver global impact,” said Gold Standard CEO Margaret Kim.
Hestian’s director Conor Fox added: “We hope this sets a precedent to unlock the vital carbon finance required to achieve universal access to cleaner cooking in Malawi and beyond.”
Founded in 2003 by a coalition of international NGOs, Gold Standard has verified over 4,000 projects in 110 countries, issuing more than 407 million carbon credits to date. However, experts note that the limited number of CORSIA-eligible projects remains a major challenge.
Carbon market intelligence firm Sylvera recently highlighted that many nations lack robust plans to cap emissions growth from 2021 levels, making compliance with CORSIA more complex and costly.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has echoed these concerns, urging governments to clarify verification procedures and prevent double-counting within carbon markets.
“To unlock CORSIA’s climate finance potential and ensure its contribution to aviation’s decarbonisation, states must authorise the release of Eligible Emissions Units,” said Yue Huang, IATA’s Assistant Director for Climate Policy.
