IATA Launches SAF Registry to Drive Aviation Decarbonization
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the SAF Registry under the management of the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO), providing a transparent global platform for tracking Sustainable Aviation Fuel transactions. This move is a critical step in the aviation industry’s drive toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
Photo Source: Groupe ADP
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has unveiled the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry, a crucial platform to support the aviation industry’s path toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This innovative system will be managed by the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO) and aims to create a global market for SAF, ensuring transparency and accountability in tracking SAF transactions across the aviation sector.
The SAF Registry allows airlines, fuel producers, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to record and verify SAF purchases, preventing double-counting and ensuring these transactions can be claimed against climate obligations. The global SAF market will benefit from this streamlined process, connecting airlines with SAF producers and suppliers, even in areas where SAF is scarce.
In addition to enabling emissions reductions, the registry supports a technology-agnostic approach that facilitates the growth of diverse SAF production streams worldwide. As SAF supply grows, airlines will be better positioned to meet their decarbonization goals with support from CADO’s platform.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability, emphasized the importance of policy support for scaling up renewable energy production and SAF production specifically. She pointed to the success of wind and solar markets as examples of what can be achieved with the right policy frameworks.
The SAF Registry, developed through collaboration with airlines, government authorities, and fuel suppliers, will be available for free until April 2027, after which it will operate on a cost recovery basis.
CADO, the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization, was established in March 2025 to manage the SAF Registry. Based in Montreal, Canada, it is a not-for-profit organization supported by IATA and open to international organizations and companies involved in the SAF value chain.
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