British Airways has entered a six-year agreement to purchase £9m worth of carbon removal credits through CUR8, making it the largest airline and purchaser of carbon removals globally.
The initiative aims for carbon removals to account for approximately one third of BA’s emissions reductions by 2050, utilizing various projects including capturing CO2 from whisky distilleries and employing rock weathering techniques.
This new purchase of 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits builds on previous smaller acquisitions from Climeworks and 1PointFive, as BA strives towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Additionally, British Airways has joined the Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William, to promote sustainable solutions and investments for environmental innovation.
Carrie Harris, director of sustainability at British Airways, shared: “As we approach the halfway point in this critical decade of action, we’re sharpening our focus on delivering real, tangible progress by 2030. We know flying has a significant impact on the planet, and achieving net zero by 2050 requires bold, innovative action today, as well as long-term transformation, and our latest investments in carbon removals reflects this commitment. While small in comparison to our total emissions, these projects are crucial in stimulating the carbon removals market. By supporting pioneering solutions, we’re not only contributing to immediate progress but also 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.”
