British Airways Invests £9 Million in Carbon Removal Credits to Drive Sustainability Efforts

British Airways has signed a six-year deal to purchase over £9 million in carbon removal credits as part of its ambitious climate strategy aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This move is part of the airline’s intensified efforts to address climate change and ensure meaningful progress by 2030. The agreement includes innovative projects in the UK and overseas that focus on capturing carbon emissions and utilizing advanced techniques to lock away CO2 for centuries.

Groundbreaking Carbon Removal Projects

One of the standout projects funded by British Airways is based in Scotland, where CO2 emissions from whisky distilleries will be captured and transformed into building materials. Another innovative method involves enhanced rock weathering to permanently sequester carbon across multiple locations in the UK. The airline will also invest in reforestation projects aimed at increasing forested areas in Scotland and Wales.

Beyond the UK, British Airways’ portfolio includes a Canadian carbon capture initiative that uses alkaline rock particles to remove carbon from rivers and oceans. In India, the airline is backing a biochar project that supports female farmers while improving soil biodiversity and boosting crop yields.

CUR8 Partnership and Carbon Removal Targets

In partnership with CUR8, a UK-based company specializing in high-quality carbon removals, British Airways has purchased 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits. Although this represents a small fraction of the airline’s total emissions, it marks a significant step in scaling up the carbon removal sector, which is essential to meeting global climate goals. Carbon removals are recognized as vital by scientists and governments, but the sector needs rapid expansion to be truly impactful.

Carrie Harris, British Airways’ Director of Sustainability, emphasized the importance of these projects in reaching net zero. “While small in comparison to our total emissions, these projects are crucial in stimulating the carbon removals market. Supporting pioneering solutions contributes to immediate progress and sets the foundation for the large-scale changes needed to meet our climate goals,” Harris said.

A Diverse Approach to Carbon Removal

British Airways is employing a variety of methods in its carbon removal efforts, including natural solutions like reforestation and advanced techniques such as Direct Air Capture (DAC). Through its deal with Climeworks, the airline is supporting the world’s largest DAC plants in Iceland, while also backing a US-based DAC plant being developed by 1PointFive in Texas.

This comprehensive approach not only aligns with British Airways’ sustainability goals but also reflects the company’s role as the UK’s largest purchaser of carbon removals, and the largest among global airlines.

Innovation and Long-Term Commitments

British Airways’ commitment to sustainability extends beyond carbon removals. The airline has also announced a partnership with The Earthshot Prize, a global environmental initiative founded by Prince William, aimed at accelerating scalable climate solutions. Through this partnership, British Airways will support groundbreaking projects ranging from alternative fuels to reducing single-use plastics.

In addition to this partnership, British Airways continues to invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), new fuel-efficient aircraft, and zero-emission ground vehicles. These initiatives are part of the airline’s broader effort to reduce its environmental impact and meet its 2030 and 2050 climate goals.