Sustainability Criteria for Sustainable Aviation Fuels in CORSIA and RenovaBio: Challenges and Opportunities for Harmonization

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are key to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in aviation. Regulatory frameworks such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and the Brazilian National Biofuel Policy (RenovaBio) define sustainability criteria for biobased SAF certification. With legislation recently approving SAF mandates, Brazil is now discussing the specific criteria that will be required for this. This study presents a comparative analysis of the sustainability criteria adopted by CORSIA and RenovaBio with a focus on biobased SAF and possibilities for harmonization. The analysis includes technical, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions and evaluates existing legal instruments, certifications, and corporate practices in Brazil. CORSIA has broader criteria than RenovaBio and, in some instances, differences in methodological choices. Full alignment between them is potentially feasible but highly complex. It would require some new regulations in Brazil as well as scientific advances. Four regulatory scenarios are proposed as alternatives to guide national regulation, ranging from full adoption of CORSIA criteria to selective integration based on complexity.