IATA Unveils Sustainability Plan to Standardize Airline ESG Goals

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the Integrated Sustainability Programme (ISP), a certification initiative designed to provide airlines with a comprehensive framework to assess and manage their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. The program was officially unveiled during the IATA World Sustainability Symposium (WSS) in Hong Kong and represents the association’s latest effort to consolidate sustainability standards across the aviation industry.

According to IATA, the ISP builds on the foundation established by the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) and introduces an integrated structure combining certification, training, consulting, assessments, and implementation tools. The framework is organized into four key modules: environmental management, sustainable procurement, social responsibility, and sustainability performance.

“The comprehensive ISP certification programme validates that an airline is managing its sustainability efforts at the highest level and in the broadest context. It achieves this by integrating the monitoring of environmental, social, and governance measures, and providing all stakeholders — including regulators and customers — with a transparent view of progress,” said IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist Marie Owens.

Airlines can obtain certification for each module individually or as part of an integrated sustainability program. Certifications are subject to independent assessments every two years to ensure continued compliance and improvement.

In its initial phase, the ISP has certified Air New Zealand and EVA Air for Sustainable Procurement, recognizing their  implementation of structured procurement policies and practices aimed at reducing environmental impact and strengthening supply chain accountability.

“By backing IATA’s new ISP, we want to play our part to help lift standards across aviation and demonstrate that doing what’s right is about doing good business,” said Kiri Hannifin, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Air New Zealand.

EVA Air highlighted the importance of adopting recognized standards to align with industry-wide sustainability expectations. The certification process evaluates criteria such as environmental management systems, supplier engagement, and data transparency—all designed to facilitate measurable improvement over time.

Owens added that the program’s scope is tailored to the operational and regulatory realities of airlines. “ISP is a practical framework to inform decision-making while ensuring that airlines’ efforts are aligned with global best practices,” she said.

The ISP combines certification with capacity-building measures. Beyond assessments, it offers technical guidance and training to help operators embed sustainability principles into their core operations. According to IATA, this approach enables airlines to standardize ESG performance metrics while addressing sector-specific challenges.