Delta committing $1bn to be first carbon neutral airline

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration

Delta announced an ambitious plan on Friday to become the first US airline to go carbon neutral, committing $1bn over the next 10 years to mitigate all emissions from its global business.

The move by Delta will put pressure on other airlines to follow suit at a time when the UN is warning that airplane emissions of carbon dioxide will triple by 2050.

Carbon dioxide emitted by airlines increased by 32% from 2013 to 2018, according to a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation. A Guardian analysis found long-haul flights generate more carbon emissions than the average person in dozens of countries around the world produces in a year.

“There’s no challenge we face that is in greater need of innovation than environmental sustainability, and we know there is no single solution. We are digging deep into the issues, examining every corner of our business, engaging experts, building coalitions, fostering partnerships and driving innovation,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive.

Delta outlined a series of efforts it will use to reach its goal:

• The company will seek to reduce its carbon footprint by decreasing the use of jet fuel and increasing efficiency.

• Delta will seek to offset its carbon emissions by investing in carbon removal programs in forestry, wetland restoration, grassland conservation, marine and soil capture and other negative emissions technologies.

• The company will seek coalitions with its employees, suppliers, global partners, customers, industry colleagues, investors and other stakeholders to reduce their carbon footprint.

Delta is the latest big company in a heavily polluting industry to announce plans to go carbon neutral. This week energy company BP announced plans to reduce its carbon footprint to net zero by 2050, which has been met with skepticism by climate activists.

Peter Miller, carbon offsets expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said he was encouraged to see Delta spending money to reduce its carbon footprint but said that there were at present few low-carbon options available at scale for airline companies.

“It will be critical that the offsets they purchase are credible and real,” he said. “And that is certainly possible. It’s a whole lot better than doing nothing.”