What does CORSIA assume about tallow demand and ranchers expanding herds?

Question

Accepted Answer

CORSIA Assumes Tallow Demand Does Not Incentivise Ranchers to Expand Herds

The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) operates under the assumption that the market demand for beef tallow, a key component in sustainable aviation fuel, does not directly lead ranchers to increase their cattle herds. This underlying assumption is significant because it permits producers utilising tallow to bypass the assessment of carbon emissions and deforestation specifically linked to the Amazon rainforest within their sustainability calculations.
Tallow as a Byproduct

Under the framework of CORSIA, tallow is often considered a byproduct of the beef industry. This classification influences how its sustainability is evaluated. The assumption is that the primary economic driver for cattle ranching remains the meat production, with tallow having a comparatively lower economic value, representing less than three percent of the value derived from a single animal. Consequently, the scheme operates on the premise that increased demand for tallow for fuel production would not incentivise ranchers to clear more land for pasture.
Omission of Deforestation Scores

This core assumption within CORSIA allows for the omission of specific scoring related to carbon emissions and deforestation, particularly concerning the Amazon rainforest, for fuels derived from tallow. The logic is that if the demand for tallow does not drive herd expansion, then the associated environmental impacts, such as land clearing for grazing in sensitive ecosystems like the Amazon, are not directly attributable to the production of sustainable aviation fuel from tallow.
Certification and Supply Chain Scrutiny

While Diamond Green Diesel's plant is certified under CORSIA, and its imports from Brazil were certified as sustainable by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), the ISCC itself does not investigate Diamond's tallow supply chain. This is because the ISCC views tallow as a byproduct under the CORSIA agreement, which, as noted, does not require detailed scrutiny of deforestation impacts in its supply chain. Experts involved in designing CORSIA have indicated that this approach is based on the aforementioned assumption about tallow demand and herd expansion.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

What does CORSIA assume about tallow demand and ranchers expanding herds?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends