We understand that air travel poses a major threat to biodiversity. But as an airline, we’re also aware of the opportunity we have to positively impact the planet, conserve wildlife and reduce the amount of the CO2 in the atmosphere.
Read our Animal welfare and conservation policy.
Through our Greenliner and carbon offset programmes, and with the launch of the Etihad Mangrove Forest, we’re able to significantly reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
We’re purchasing carbon offsets to neutralise the CO2 emissions of our flagship 787-10 Greenliner. In the process, we’re supporting Carbon Tanzania’s Makame Savannah project; an initiative that protects wildlife, endangered species and local communities. The project promotes better management of local and natural resources in the southern extension of the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem and is the largest community conservation project in SubSaharan Africa.
Every year, the project supports hundreds of bird and mammal species. And within 10 years, it will have reduced emissions by 1.36 million tonnes.
The UAE was one of the first countries to agree to the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). And shortly after, we pledged to reach zero net emissions by 2050.
Part of that commitment includes investing in offsetting initiatives that significantly reduce CO2 in the atmosphere and add value to local markets.
Where feasible, credits are purchased from the offset schemes verified by the CORSIA Technical Advisory Body, aligning to the WWF’s guidance on voluntary purchases of carbon credits.
For every seat on our Sustainable Flight in 2021, we adopted a mangrove in Abu Dhabi’s Jubail Mangrove Park. In three years, just one mangrove will capture 12.3kg of CO2. That’s around 3,700kg of CO2 for all the guests on board.
Shortly after that we launched the Etihad Mangrove Forest to support mangrove conservation in the UAE. We’re now committed to establishing a mangrove forest in Abu Dhabi of up to 182,000 mangroves, with the ability to develop forests in destinations across our network.
Did you know that 30% of the world’s tree species are at risk of extinction? As the exclusive sponsor of the BGCI’s first biodiversity certification programme, that’s something we want to change.