UK budget carrier EasyJet is to offset carbon emissions across its entire network, effective immediately, insisting that it has taken steps to ensure the measure has validity.
UK budget carrier EasyJet is to offset carbon emissions across its entire network, effective immediately, insisting that it has taken steps to ensure the measure has validity.
EasyJet has disclosed the strategy in its full-year financial results briefing.
It says the emissions from every aircraft in its network will be offset through investment in projects to reduce carbon in the atmosphere.
“EasyJet will compensate for every tonne of carbon dioxide emitted from fuel used for its flights,” says the carrier, claiming that it will be the first major operator to have net-zero carbon emissions.
It says the cost of the scheme, along with its work to support new environmentally-friendly technology, will amount to around £25 million for the full year 2019-20.
“We recognise that offsetting is only an interim measure, but we want to take action on our carbon emissions now,” says chief executive Johan Lundgren.
“Our priority is to continue to work on reducing our carbon footprint in the short term, coupled with long-term work to support the development of new technology.”
EasyJet is keen to avoid the zero-carbon plan being seen as a gimmick, and stresses that it has carried out a “rigorous process” to select valid carbon-offset programmes.
It says it will only offset with “respected” programmes which have achieved globally-recognised accreditation.
“These accreditors ensure that the carbon reductions claimed by individual programmes would not have happened without that project – or that, by reducing carbon emissions in one place, they do not inadvertently increase them elsewhere,” it adds.
EasyJet says it has linked up with advisory firm Climate Focus to assist with its programme selection.
It puts its carbon dioxide emissions at just over 77g per passenger during the 2018-19 financial year, down from the previous figure of 78.4g.
