Qantas has published its interim targets for reducing carbon emissions by 25 per cent by 2030. As with most airlines making similar commitments, the ways of getting to net zero rely on three initial efforts:
- Operational and fleet efficiency
- Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)
- Carbon offsets
Qantas was one of the first airlines to declare the aim of being net zero by 2050. In the three years since it did so in 2019, the airline outlined its progress. It says it has
- Built one of the world’s largest customer offsetting schemes
- Introduced a new Green tier to its loyalty program
- All Qantas Group buildings will be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity in Australia in 2022
- Accelerated the retirement of legacy 747s and ‘rightsized’ its A380 fleet
- Made international SAF purchases (out of London and California)
- Removed 80 million single-use plastic items from its service
- Introduced the option of plant‑based meals on its international inflight menu in 2021
- Appointed the Group’s first Chief Sustainability Officer
Interestingly, the airline says that it will introduce an internal carbon price to further guide investment decisions that are aligned to our targets, though it has not disclosed what that carbon price is currently.
“We are committed to minimising our impact on the planet — in the air and on the ground — so that the future generations continue to experience the wonder of travel.” says Chairman Richard Goyder
The Qantas Group’s Climate Action Plan outlines interim targets including reducing net emissions by 25 per cent by 2030 and increasing its uptake of SAF by 10 per cent by 2030.
This will be accompanied “by an average 1.5 per cent per annum efficiency target, driving a reduction in fuel burn through fleet modernisation and operational efficiencies in the air and on the ground.”
The airline group is also targeting zero single-use plastics across its operations by 2027 and zero waste to landfill by 2030.
Qantas is joined in its aims not only by other Oneworld airlines, but the majority of carriers, many of which are working to encourage the production of SAF.