Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways boosts carbon offset programme

Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad Airways is expanding its carbon offset programme in collaboration with Shell, while setting up a guest programme to allow them to purchase additional voluntary offsets.

This move follows the airline’s purchase of 80,000 tonnes of carbon offsets in November 2020, with the intent to completely neutralise the CO2 emissions of its flagship “Greenliner” 787-10 aircraft for a full year of operations in 2021.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways launches region’s first aircraft carbon offset programme

Shell’s nature-based carbon offsets
Through its participation in Shell’s carbon credit programme, Etihad will expand its offset programme beyond the original Makame Savannah REDD project in Tanzania to include Peru’s Cordillera Azul National Park and Indonesia’s Katingan Mentaya Project.

Both the Katingan Mentaya and Cordillera Azul projects are certified by the Verified Carbon Standard and Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standard, delivering significant carbon dioxide reductions, while providing additional benefits to the community and biodiversity and supporting the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. Shell is a major supplier of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and is active in advancing the supply and use of SAF globally.

Tony Douglas, Etihad Aviation group CEO, said: “Exactly one year ago, we committed to a sustainable future with the very real, tangible objective to be completely carbon neutral by 2050 and to reduce CO2 emissions to 50 per cent of 2019 levels by 2035. Since then, the aviation industry has been completely transformed by the Covid-19 crisis, however our commitment to sustainability has never wavered. We have since introduced and led a number of industry-leading sustainability initiatives to further drive and promote carbon neutrality, of which today’s announcement is just the latest.”

“We are pleased to be helping Etihad Airways reduce their net carbon footprint, through the use of high-quality, nature-based carbon offsets,” added Anna Mascolo, President, Shell Aviation.

“Until sustainable aviation fuel and technology solutions are developed and deployed at scale, offsetting is not a choice but a necessity if companies within the aviation sector are to meet net-zero emissions targets. This agreement is a great example of action that can be taken today to engage multiple parties in accelerating aviation’s pathway to net zero emissions, even in challenging circumstances.”

Etihad voluntary guest offset programme
Etihad is working with New Zealand Carbon Offsetting company CarbonClick, a platform that deploys certified Gold Standard offsets to reduce the climate impact of aviation through fully traceable reforestation and renewable energy projects, to develop its voluntary guest offset programme.

CarbonClick has helped more than 650 businesses and more than 38,000 individuals in taking climate action. Etihad is one of the first airlines to work with CarbonClick for climate change solutions.

“In spite of Covid and the vulnerability of the industry, Etihad is determined to pave the path for a green recovery and commit to environmental stewardship and climate action. In that vein, as well as expanding our self-funded Carbon Offset programme, we are developing the option to allow guests to offset their own journey’s emissions,” said Douglas.