Etihad Airways is expanding its offset programme to include climate action projects in Peru and Indonesia.
As a partner of Shell’s carbon credit programme, the Abu Dhabi airline supports the Makame Savannah REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) project in Tanzania.
The airline is now expanding its commitment to include Peru’s Cordillera Azul National Park (pictured) and Indonesia’s Katingan Mentaya Project.
The Cordillera Azul project protects 1.6 million hectares of threatened forest which is home to many rare species, while supporting 716 jobs and 25 sustainable enterprises.
The Katingan Mentaya project in Indonesia protects forest habitats for five critically endangered species including Bornean orangutans, southern Bornean gibbons and proboscis monkeys.
The projects are both certified by the Verified Carbon Standard and Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standard.
The airline said: “The [projects] deliver significant carbon dioxide reductions, while providing additional benefits to the community and biodiversity and supporting the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.”
Tony Douglas, Etihad Aviation Group chief executive, said: “Exactly one year ago, we committed to a sustainable future with the very real, tangible objective to be completely carbon neutral by 2050 and to reduce CO2 emissions to 50% of 2019 levels by 2035.
“Since then, the aviation industry has been completely transformed by the Covid-19 crisis.
“However, our commitment to sustainability has never wavered. We have since introduced and led a number of industry-leading sustainability initiatives to further drive and promote carbon neutrality, of which today’s announcement is just the latest.”
The airline is also working with an offsetting company in New Zealand called CarbonClick to develop a voluntary guest offset programme.
Douglas said: “In spite of Covid and the vulnerability of the industry, Etihad is determined to pave the path for a green recovery and commit to environmental stewardship and climate action.”
Picture source: Cordillera Azul National Park Project in Peru