Qantas, Jetstar achieve carbon offsetting award
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Qantas and Jetstar have been recognised for their carbon offset programmes under the Australian Government’s new National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS). The initiative is a voluntary certification scheme which allows Australian businesses to measure, reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with business operations or products.
“Qantas and Jetstar customers have the option to fly carbon neutral by offsetting their own share of flight emissions. With increased understanding of climate change, the carbon offset programs provide the flying public and business travellers with a very real and convenient way to take action on climate change at an individual level,” said Meg McDonald, CEO of Australian Carbon Trust. “It’s important for customers to have this choice and it creates wider awareness and action towards climate change” she added.
Qantas Group’s Chief Risk Officer, Rob Kella, said the Group’s carbon offset scheme was part of a comprehensive environment strategy for the airlines.
“Both of our flying brands, Qantas and Jetstar, launched carbon offset programs in 2007 to give our customers the choice of flying carbon neutral by offsetting their share of flight emissions,” Kella said. “Since then all contributions received have gone towards purchasing carbon offsets generated by accredited abatement projects. The program has offset over 850,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions to date. This is the equivalent of taking around 200,000 cars off the road for a year.
“The Qantas Group is committed to improving fuel efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint. Our fuel conservation program has saved over one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions since 2005, and we are working with government and industry partners on accelerating the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuels.”
The NCOS Carbon Neutral Program is administered by the Australian Carbon Trust on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. The scheme commenced on 1 July 2010 as a successor scheme to the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly initiative.
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