British Airways has signed a deal to purchase more than £9 million worth of innovative carbon removal credits in the United Kingdom and overseas as part of a six-year agreement.
The flag carrier has joined forces with CUR8 - a UK-based company that specialises in sourcing high-quality carbon removal credits - to purchase 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits through its CUR8 portfolio.
The airline will also acquire carbon removal credits from two companies specialising in high-durability reforestation projects, which will increase the amount of forested land in Scotland and Wales.
The airline’s portfolio also includes Canadian carbon capture projects that focus on carbon removal from rivers and oceans using alkaline rock particles. In India, the airline is backing a biochar project that empowers female farmers while enhancing soil biodiversity and farm yields.
“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. Our latest investments in carbon removals reflect this commitment,” said Carrie Harris, director of sustainability at British Airways.
Harris continued: “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.”
British Airways has noted that one-third of emissions reductions by 2050 will come from robust carbon reductions and removals in other sectors, with the airline supporting research and innovation to help accelerate the development of cutting-edge solutions since 2019.
Marta Krupinska, CEO of CUR8, added: “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.”
These new partnerships and focus on short-term action complement the existing initiatives the airline is already undertaking towards its sustainability goals, including investing in sustainable aviation fuel.