Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, reducing emissions through new technologies and protecting iconic ecosystems in South America, are some of the commitments included in LATAM’s new Sustainability Strategy. Consisting of four core pillars; Environmental Management, Climate Change, Circular Economy and Shared Value, the strategy positions sustainability at the centre of the business and aims to stimulate social, environmental and economic development of the region by collaborating with passengers, employees, suppliers and communities over the next 30 years.
“We are facing a critical moment in the history of humanity, with a serious climate crisis and a pandemic that has changed our society. Today, it is not enough to do the usual. As a group we have the responsibility to go further in the search for collective solutions. We want to be an actor that promotes the social, environmental and economic development of the region; therefore, we are assuming a commitment that seeks to contribute to the conservation of ecosystems and the well-being of the people of South America, making it a better place for all of them,” said Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group.
The first stage of the collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), which forms part of the Climate Change pillar, is to plan conservation and reforestation actions in iconic ecosystems in the region. TNC is a global environmental organisation creating solutions to tackle the most urgent challenges on the planet, using scientific evidence to ensure nature and people may prosper together.
“With more than 35 years of experience in Latin America, our scientific studies have shown that forest restoration and regeneration can efficiently contribute to the Nationally Determined Contributions’ (NDCs) goals. TNC believes that multisectorial collaboration accelerates the implementation of nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change, protect biodiversity, and develop a more prosperous future for people in the region,” said Ian Thompson, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Brazil.
Within the climate change pillar, the group announced that it will work to reduce its emissions through the incorporation of sustainable fuels and new aviation technologies - expected to be available in 2035. “The environment cannot wait 15 years to have the necessary technologies to reduce emissions. This is why we will work in parallel to promote these transformations and offset our emissions through nature-based solutions,” said Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group.
Through the development of a portfolio of conservation projects and other initiatives, the LATAM Group will contribute to offset 50% of its domestic emissions by 2030, establishing a path to be carbon neutral by 2050. It will intervene in iconic ecosystems of South America, such as the Amazon, the Chaco, the Llanos of Orinoco, the Atlantic forest and El Cerrado, among others.
Additionally, the LATAM Group will promote a programme that allows passengers, corporate and cargo customers the option of offsetting the CO2 emissions associated with their trips. In conjunction, the group will offset the same amount of CO2 emissions as customers under the 1+1 programme.