Highlights

• British Airways has invested £9 million in carbon removal credits in the UK and internationally to help reduce its carbon footprint by 2030.
• Projects include CO2 from whisky distilleries in Scotland, enhanced rock weathering in the UK, and reforestation in Scotland and Wales.
• Internationally, British Airways is supporting carbon capture in Canada and biochar in India.

British Airways (BA) has partnered with CUR8 to buy 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits to grow the sector and support global climate action.

BA will buy over £9 million worth of carbon removal credits over six years to support its climate plan. This is part of the airline’s overall aim to get to net zero by 2030.

One of the projects is in Scotland, where CO2 is captured from whisky distilleries and turned into building materials. Another across the UK uses enhanced rock weathering to store carbon for thousands of years. The airline will also buy credits from reforestation projects in Scotland and Wales to increase forest cover.

In addition to these UK projects, BA is supporting carbon capture in Canada, where alkaline rock particles are used to remove carbon from rivers and oceans. In India, the airline is investing in a biochar project that removes carbon, improves soil health and supports female farmers.

The airline has partnered with CUR8, a UK-based company that sources high-quality carbon removal credits. Through this partnership, BA has bought 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits. This is a small fraction of its overall emissions but an important step in growing the carbon removal sector. Experts agree that carbon removals are key to tackling climate change, and the sector needs to scale fast to meet global goals.

Carrie Harris, British Airways’ Director of Sustainability, said: "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.”

Carbon removal involves removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it safely for decades or even centuries. BA’s portfolio includes tree planting, soil storage, direct air capture and enhanced rock weathering. Along with previous investments, BA is the largest buyer of carbon removals in the UK and the leading airline in this space.

Marta Krupinska, CEO of CUR8, said: “British Airways understands that carbon removals are not a nice-to-have, but an essential part of the aviation sector’s net zero journey. We've been proud to partner with this aviation leader to build a portfolio that combines the best of nature and human engineering, stretching from UK soils to the oceans and rivers of Canada.

"At CUR8, we bring together the world’s leading scientists and climate software to help organisations source and manage carbon removals to help de-risk their net zero future. British Airways is a leading brand that recognises that with this early investment, it can help to make an impact not only for themselves but for the industry at large.”

In 2019, BA became the first airline group to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. By 2030, the airline will integrate sustainability across its operations, set new internal carbon reduction targets and launch a sustainability learning programme for its employees to drive further improvement.

BA has also bought carbon removal credits from Climeworks, which has the world’s largest Direct Air Capture plants in Iceland and 1PointFive, a US-based company developing similar technology in Texas. The airline estimates that about a third of its emissions reductions by 2050 will come from carbon reductions and removals in other sectors and has been investing in research and innovation in this area since 2019.

Follow KnowESG's Sustainable Finance news for regular news and views.

Discover an extensive network of ESG providers here

Check out KnowESG's latest ESG Course updates

Source: BA