easyJet has joined Race to Zero, a global UN-backed campaign to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest.
In joining Race to Zero, the airline is committing to set an interim science-based target for 2035 as well as to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, aligning with the criteria and recommendations of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
easyJet plans to present its net-zero roadmap in the coming months.
Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said that joining Race to Zero “is a major milestone in easyJet’s net-zero journey and I’m very proud to be able to make this announcement today,”
“Our ambition is to ultimately achieve net-zero emissions flying in the UK and across Europe and we are proactively working alongside industry leaders, such as Airbus and Wright Electric, to help support and champion zero-emission technologies for passenger planes of the future.”
Making flying more sustainable is something easyJet has long prioritised.
In 2019, it became the first major airline worldwide to offset the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all its flights, and currently remains the only major airline in Europe to do so. This comes at no additional cost to its passengers and the airline only supports projects that are certified by either Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard.
Meanwhile, Aviation Minister, Robert Courts said that it is “great to see easyJet joining Race to Zero on COP26’s Transport Day,”
He also said that easyJet’s efforts “represents an opportunity to build momentum in reducing aviation emissions,” and that “putting in place a net-zero roadmap will help secure a sustainable future for the sector and create green jobs in the process.”
The airline is optimistic that it could begin flying customers on planes powered by hydrogen-combustion, hydrogen-electric or a hybrid of both by the mid to late-2030s. It is also focusing on reducing plastic – more than 27 million single-use plastic items were eliminated – as well as reducing waste within its wider operations and the supply chain.
For more information, please visit easyJet.com.
Travel Pursuit UK is a brand new travel trade news media. Click here for more exciting UK travel daily news and travel news updates that you won’t want to miss!
