On March 27, 2026, in Hanoi, Vietnam PoA Carbon Management Joint Stock Company coordinated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to organize the technical meeting titled “Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) - International Experiences and Compliance Strategies for Vietnam’s Aviation Sector.”
The event took place in the context of the global aviation industry facing increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to maintain its vital role in economic growth, trade, and international connectivity. This is also considered a pivotal moment for Vietnam to reposition its aviation sector within the green transition.
CORSIA, established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is the first global market-based mechanism designed to control and offset emissions from international aviation, to achieve carbon-neutral growth. Vietnam has officially registered to participate in the voluntary phase of CORSIA starting in 2026, demonstrating a strong commitment to global climate goals while opening up opportunities for deeper engagement in the international carbon market.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, highly appreciated Vietnam’s proactive decision to join the first voluntary phase of CORSIA from 2026. This reflects strong leadership and a clear commitment to responsible and sustainable development. She noted that Vietnam is not starting from scratch, having already established a legal foundation and a Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system. However, while participation in CORSIA brings significant opportunities, it also presents challenges related to compliance requirements, costs, and institutional capacity.
More importantly, participation in CORSIA should not be viewed solely as a cost burden. It also creates opportunities to access international carbon markets, develop domestic carbon projects, generate valuable carbon credits, and enhance the competitiveness of aviation enterprises. Achieving this will require a clear legal framework, strong inter-agency coordination, and timely decision-making from the early stages.
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Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, delivering her opening remarks
Mr. Ta Quang Hung, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science, Technology, Environment, and Building Materials under the Ministry of Construction, emphasized that participation in CORSIA is an inevitable trend for Vietnam, not only to fulfill international commitments but also to enhance capacity and proactively adapt to increasingly stringent technical barriers.
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Mr. Ta Quang Hung, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science, Technology, Environment and Building Materials, Ministry of Construction
According to Ms. Cao Thi Thu Huong, the representative of the Consulting Centre for Transport Development Investment (CCTDI), Vietnam has the necessary foundations to implement CORSIA. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is being actively promoted, and Vietnam has strong potential in feedstock supply. However, challenges remain in collection and processing costs, technology, and traceability requirements. In terms of infrastructure, fuel storage and refueling systems at airports are already capable of accommodating SAF without requiring significant additional investment, while national technical standards have also been established.
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Ms. Cao Thi Thu Huong, representative of the Consulting Centre for Transport Development Investment (CCTDI)
According to Ms. Nguyen Le Khanh Linh, Technical Expert at Vietnam PoA Carbon Management Joint Stock Company, CORSIA has been implemented since 2021 and currently includes 130 participating countries. The program consists of three phases, with the mandatory phase beginning in 2027 for countries with significant aviation activity, including Vietnam. Under this mechanism, airlines are required to offset emissions exceeding the 2019 baseline by purchasing eligible carbon credits. These obligations are calculated on a route-by-route basis and are strictly monitored through the MRV system.
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Ms. Nguyen Le Khanh Linh, Technical Expert at Vietnam PoA Carbon Management Joint Stock Company
Ms. Dang Hong Hanh, Team Leader, Carbon Market Expert at Vietnam PoA Carbon Management Joint Stock Company, proposed several CORSIA compliance options, including the use of international carbon credits, the development of domestic credit supply, and the establishment of a cost-optimized compliance roadmap for enterprises.
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Ms. Dang Hong Hanh, Team Lead, Carbon Market Expert at Vietnam PoA Carbon Management Joint Stock Company
Meanwhile, Ms. Roxanne Tan, International Carbon Market Expert at South Pole Group, shared global experience in CORSIA implementation, highlighting the critical role of carbon markets and transparency mechanisms in ensuring effective implementation.
From a business perspective, Ms. Pham Minh Huyen, Strategy Specialist at Vietnam Airlines, noted that CORSIA compliance presents both challenges and opportunities for airlines to restructure operations, improve efficiency, and transition toward sustainable development.
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Ms. Pham Minh Huyen, Strategy Specialist at Vietnam Airlines
The discussion session was lively and highly engaging, with active participation from businesses, regulatory bodies, and both domestic and international experts. Numerous practical questions were raised, focusing on appropriate compliance roadmaps for Vietnamese enterprises in the context of a rapidly evolving carbon market. Experts provided in-depth responses, clarifying regulatory requirements, sharing implementation experiences, and offering practical recommendations to support businesses in navigating CORSIA effectively.
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Enterprise representatives participating in discussion and Q&A with experts
As a co-organizer and member of the technical advisory unit, Vietnam PoA Carbon Management Joint Stock Company reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to the meeting's technical content, particularly by proposing effective and context-appropriate compliance solutions for Vietnam. The technical meeting marks an important step in preparing for CORSIA implementation, contributing to capacity building for stakeholders and supporting the sustainable development of Vietnam’s aviation sector in alignment with achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
