British Airways Invests £9 Million in Carbon Removal Credits
British Airways has announced a significant commitment to sustainability by signing a deal worth over £9 million ($12 million) for innovative carbon removal credits in the UK and abroad. This six-year agreement aims to accelerate the airline’s climate initiatives as part of its broader strategy to address climate change by 2030.
The airline has partnered with CUR8, a UK-based company specializing in sourcing high-quality carbon removal credits. Under this agreement, British Airways will acquire 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits from CUR8’s portfolio. While carbon removal is recognized as a vital tool in combating climate change, the airline acknowledges the urgent need to scale up efforts in this sector.
British Airways’ carbon removal strategy encompasses various methods, including storing carbon in trees and soils, capturing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, and durably storing it underground or through enhanced rock weathering.
The airline’s portfolio also includes carbon removal credits from two companies focused on high-durability reforestation projects, which aim to increase forested land in Scotland and Wales. One innovative project in Scotland will capture CO2 emissions from whisky distilleries and repurpose them into sustainable building materials. Another project across multiple UK locations employs enhanced rock weathering techniques to sequester carbon for thousands of years.
In addition to UK initiatives, British Airways is investing in Canadian carbon capture projects that target carbon removal from rivers and oceans using alkaline rock particles. In India, the airline is supporting a biochar project that empowers female farmers, enhancing soil biodiversity and farm productivity.
Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, stated, “As we approach the halfway point in this critical decade of action, we’re sharpening our focus on delivering real, tangible progress by 2030.” She emphasized that flying has a significant environmental impact and that achieving net zero by 2050 requires bold actions today, as well as long-term transformations. The latest investments in carbon removals reflect this commitment.
Harris added, “While small in comparison to our total emissions, these projects are crucial in stimulating the carbon removal market. By supporting pioneering solutions, we’re contributing to immediate progress and laying the groundwork for the large-scale changes needed to meet our climate goals. There is no pathway to net zero for aviation without carbon removals.”
This investment positions British Airways as the largest purchaser of carbon removals in the UK and among airlines globally. Marta Krupinska, CEO of CUR8, noted, “British Airways understands that carbon removals are not a nice-to-have but an essential part of the aviation sector’s net zero journey.”
In 2019, British Airways was one of the first airlines to commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. The airline’s 2030 strategy includes embedding a culture of sustainability across its operations, introducing internal carbon reduction targets, and launching a sustainability learning program to inspire and inform employees about further improvement areas.
With roughly one-third of British Airways’ emissions reductions by 2050 expected to come from robust carbon reductions and removals in other sectors, this initiative underscores the airline’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its proactive approach to tackling climate change.