ESG Global Vision

Environment, corporate governance

Varies between participating states 

CORSIA applies to airline operators who fulfil the following criteria:

• their annual CO2 emissions from international flights using aeroplanes with a take-off mass greater than 5,700kg exceed 10,000 tonnes (all major carriers meet this relatively low threshold);
• they are responsible for international flights (flights by state aircraft and humanitarian, medical, and firefighting flights, as well as flights before or after such flights which are carried out by the same aeroplane and are needed for these activities, are not included); and
• they are registered in one of the participating states (see the list as of 1 January 2026 here; notable omissions include India and China).

In 2010, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a United Nations Agency that sets global standards and regulations for international civil aviation, adopted a sectoral aspirational goal for carbon neutral growth from 2020 onwards. Whilst operational and technological improvements are seen as a key part of achieving this goal, the ICAO took the view that a market based scheme was required to fill the remaining emissions gap and to achieve carbon neutral growth. Accordingly, the International Standards and Recommended Practices for the implementation of CORSIA were adopted as an Annex to the Chicago Convention in 2016, to apply to all of ICAO’s 193 member states from 1 January 2019.

CORSIA is being implemented in three phases:

• The Pilot Phase (2021-2023) and the First Phase (2024-2026). During these phases participation by ICAO member states was voluntary. 126 member states participated, with flights between participating states subject to reporting and offsetting requirements.
• The Second Phase (2027-2035). During this phase, with some exemptions, such as for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, participation will become mandatory for all ICAO member states and all international flights will be subject to offsetting requirements. The Second Phase will be split into three-year compliance periods.

In scope airline operators are under the following obligations:

• To monitor and report emissions from international flights on an annual basis.
  • At the beginning of each 3-year compliance period, an operator is required to submit an Emissions Monitoring Plan to its administering state which, once approved, the operator will use for the entire compliance period.
  • Under the plan, the operator is required to monitor and record its fuel use for international flights over the course of each calendar year. The operator must then estimate their annual CO2 emissions and report them to the national authority of their administering state by 30 April the following year. To guarantee the accuracy of the data reported, operators will need their annual emissions report to be verified by an impartial third-party verification body prior to submission.
  • Aggregated emissions are required to be reported by each administering state to ICAO, which will publish the total emissions from individual operators.
• To offset their emissions.
  • Under the scheme, the administering state calculates the annual offsetting requirements for each operator by multiplying the operator’s CO2 emissions by a ‘Growth Factor’, which is calculated by the ICAO and represents the percentage growth of the aviation sector’s international CO2 emissions covered by CORSIA’s offsetting requirements in a given year compared to the sector’s baseline emissions (being 85% of 2019 emissions levels).
  • Upon completion of each 3-year compliance period, the operator will have to show they have met their offsetting requirements by purchasing and cancelling the appropriate number of certified CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (“CEEUs”) (each representing a tonne of CO2). The price of these units varies considerably depending on the type of project ($0.50 to $45/tCO2e during 2020-2021 with a weighted average of $3.08/tCO2eq in 2021).
  • Operators can also reduce their offsetting requirements by using CORSIA Eligible Fuels (“CEFs”) that meet the CORSIA sustainability criteria, which includes fuels with at least 10% lower CO2e emissions on a life-cycle basis compared to a reference fossil fuel value of 89.1 gCO2e/MJ. It is worth noting that as the baseline for calculating emissions reduction targets is 85% of 2019 emissions levels, offsetting requirements will only cover the growth in emissions since 2019 and therefore it is anticipated that the percentage of their total emissions that operators will have to offset will remain modest for the first few years of implementation of the scheme.

For more information, please follow the link here.

Penalties and enforcement:

National aviation authorities of participating states determine the sanctions for non-compliance, so these vary between countries. In the UK, for example, typical civil penalties can include a £20,000 penalty with a further daily penalty of £500 for failing to: (i) apply or revise an emissions monitoring plan; (ii) monitor emissions properly; or (iii) submit emissions reports. In recent consultations, the UK government has indicated that the penalties for failing to cancel CEEUs on time in line with an airline’s offsetting requirements would be £100 for each uncancelled unit.

Legal Notice for the amendment for the creation of a Code of Conduct

In force

Board members of companies

The Code requires boards of directors to promote sustainability by ensuring that the company’s strategies promote the sustainability of the company. The issuer is required to give attention to ESG aspects of the business which realise sustainability.

Industry Code framework

In force

Institutional investors and corporates

The Code applies to institutional asset owners and managers investing in the debt and equity of companies listed on a licensed securities exchange with primary focus on domestic investors domiciled in Kenya.

Corporate social responsibility and governance

In force

All legal entities

This legislation requires public and private entities to put in place appropriate procedures for the prevention of bribery and corruption.

Corporate governance and Social responsibility

In force

Workers and corporations/companies

This legislation guarantees the rights of workers to form, join or participate in the activities and programmes of a trade union.

Environment, corporate governance

Varies between participating states 

CORSIA applies to airline operators who fulfil the following criteria:

• their annual CO2 emissions from international flights using aeroplanes with a take-off mass greater than 5,700kg exceed 10,000 tonnes (all major carriers meet this relatively low threshold);
• they are responsible for international flights (flights by state aircraft and humanitarian, medical, and firefighting flights, as well as flights before or after such flights which are carried out by the same aeroplane and are needed for these activities, are not included); and
• they are registered in one of the participating states (see the list as of 1 January 2026 here; notable omissions include India and China).

In 2010, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a United Nations Agency that sets global standards and regulations for international civil aviation, adopted a sectoral aspirational goal for carbon neutral growth from 2020 onwards. Whilst operational and technological improvements are seen as a key part of achieving this goal, the ICAO took the view that a market based scheme was required to fill the remaining emissions gap and to achieve carbon neutral growth. Accordingly, the International Standards and Recommended Practices for the implementation of CORSIA were adopted as an Annex to the Chicago Convention in 2016, to apply to all of ICAO’s 193 member states from 1 January 2019.

CORSIA is being implemented in three phases:

• The Pilot Phase (2021-2023) and the First Phase (2024-2026). During these phases participation by ICAO member states was voluntary. 126 member states participated, with flights between participating states subject to reporting and offsetting requirements.
• The Second Phase (2027-2035). During this phase, with some exemptions, such as for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, participation will become mandatory for all ICAO member states and all international flights will be subject to offsetting requirements. The Second Phase will be split into three-year compliance periods.

In scope airline operators are under the following obligations:

• To monitor and report emissions from international flights on an annual basis.
  • At the beginning of each 3-year compliance period, an operator is required to submit an Emissions Monitoring Plan to its administering state which, once approved, the operator will use for the entire compliance period.
  • Under the plan, the operator is required to monitor and record its fuel use for international flights over the course of each calendar year. The operator must then estimate their annual CO2 emissions and report them to the national authority of their administering state by 30 April the following year. To guarantee the accuracy of the data reported, operators will need their annual emissions report to be verified by an impartial third-party verification body prior to submission.
  • Aggregated emissions are required to be reported by each administering state to ICAO, which will publish the total emissions from individual operators.
• To offset their emissions.
  • Under the scheme, the administering state calculates the annual offsetting requirements for each operator by multiplying the operator’s CO2 emissions by a ‘Growth Factor’, which is calculated by the ICAO and represents the percentage growth of the aviation sector’s international CO2 emissions covered by CORSIA’s offsetting requirements in a given year compared to the sector’s baseline emissions (being 85% of 2019 emissions levels).
  • Upon completion of each 3-year compliance period, the operator will have to show they have met their offsetting requirements by purchasing and cancelling the appropriate number of certified CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (“CEEUs”) (each representing a tonne of CO2). The price of these units varies considerably depending on the type of project ($0.50 to $45/tCO2e during 2020-2021 with a weighted average of $3.08/tCO2eq in 2021).
  • Operators can also reduce their offsetting requirements by using CORSIA Eligible Fuels (“CEFs”) that meet the CORSIA sustainability criteria, which includes fuels with at least 10% lower CO2e emissions on a life-cycle basis compared to a reference fossil fuel value of 89.1 gCO2e/MJ. It is worth noting that as the baseline for calculating emissions reduction targets is 85% of 2019 emissions levels, offsetting requirements will only cover the growth in emissions since 2019 and therefore it is anticipated that the percentage of their total emissions that operators will have to offset will remain modest for the first few years of implementation of the scheme.

For more information, please follow the link here.

Penalties and enforcement:

National aviation authorities of participating states determine the sanctions for non-compliance, so these vary between countries. In the UK, for example, typical civil penalties can include a £20,000 penalty with a further daily penalty of £500 for failing to: (i) apply or revise an emissions monitoring plan; (ii) monitor emissions properly; or (iii) submit emissions reports. In recent consultations, the UK government has indicated that the penalties for failing to cancel CEEUs on time in line with an airline’s offsetting requirements would be £100 for each uncancelled unit.

Environmental legislation

Active

Energy stakeholders and companies

This legislation sets out guidelines on energy efficiency and conservation, whilst granting the Energy Regulation Commission the power to carry out energy audits at least once every three years.

Providing establishment, powers and functions of the energy sector entities; promotion of renewable energy; exploration, recovery and commercial utilization of geothermal energy; regulation of midstream and downstream petroleum and coal activities; regulation, production, supply and use of electricity and other energy forms; and for connected purposes.

Find out more:

Energy Act 2019

National Assembly

Forest Resources

In force

All entities and natural persons

This law provides for the development and sustainable management, conservation and rational utilization of all forest resources for the socio-economic development of the country

Legislation (Act of parliament)

In force

Regulation of the management and development of water resources.

Section 40(4) and 87 require a public consultation when issuing permits and licences concerning water use.

Social Responsibility and Environmental

in force

Any entity/person transacting with  land cartegorised as community land by the Act

Section 36 of this legislation requires stakeholder consultation with regard to projects on community land about environmental, social, cultural and economic impact.

Environmental management

in force

Companies that produce waste as a consequence of conducting business.

This legislation prohibits the discharge and disposal of wastes in a manner as to cause pollution to the environment.

Find out more:

Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act 1999

Parliament

Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance

In force

Workers and Employers

This legislation governs the responsibility of employers towards employees in creating safe and healthy working environments.

Social Corporate Responsibility

In force

Companies and natural persons

Section 10(1) of this legislation protects children under the age of 18 years from economic exploitation and work likely to interfere with a child’s education, or be harmful to a child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

Social Responsibility, equality and protection from discrimination

In force

Persons with disability

This legislation safeguards the rights and interests of persons with disabilities to be entitled to a barrier-free and disability friendly environment to enable them have access to buildings, roads and other social amenities and equipment to promote their mobility.

Social, Environmental and Corporate Responsibility

In force

Companies and Investors

Section 225(5) of this legislation requires holders of mineral rights in respect to large scale operations to update mine plans in respect of conditions of employment, health and safety, management of the environment and community social investments.