With the aviation industry accounting for roughly 2% of global carbon emissions, Delta on 14th February announced a 10-year commitment to mitigate all emissions from its global business from March 1, 2020, onward. The three main areas of investment are carbon reduction, carbon renewal, and stakeholder engagement.
In the move, Delta is set to invest over US$ 1 billion over the next decade in a bid to be the first carbon-neutral airline globally. According to Delta CEO Ed Bastian, “There is no substitute for the power that travel has to connect people, which our world needs today more than ever before. As we connect customers around the globe, it is our responsibility to deliver on our promise to bring people together and ensure the utmost care for our environment. The time is now to accelerate our investments and establish an ambitious commitment that the entire Delta team will deliver.”
The airline plans on reducing the weight of its aircraft by roughly 700 pounds(317 Kg), which will include the renewal of old brakes with carbon brakes. Additionally, replacing older aircraft, improving flight operations and increasing the use of sustainable fuel will help Delta to reach its goal.
Delta is also partly investing in carbon renewal projects through creating more land under forests, restoring wetlands, and grassland conservation which is aimed at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The airline will also fund research projects, which will form a base for future innovative projects.
The third investment area is on stakeholder engagement, where the airline wants to strengthen its alliances with employees, suppliers, global partners, customers, industry colleagues, investors, and other stakeholders to increase efficiency and therefore decrease the airline's impact on the environment.
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