Cathay Pacific aims to attain carbon neutrality by 2050

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific has committed to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, by focusing on investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), carbon emission offsets and reducing emissions through enhanced efficiency. Cathay Pacific’s CE Augustus Tang called for increased efforts to tackle the “imminent global risk” and what is “potentially a much more disruptive crisis” than the Covid-19 pandemic, says the carrier on Thursday. The group outlined its climate commitments in its Sustainable Development Report 2020 report, which it released in a 18 May filing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. “While the aviation industry contributed less than 3% of the world’s man-made CO2 emissions prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cathay Pacific embraces its responsibility to lead the charge towards sustainable aviation and ensure future generations can experience the joy of travel,” Tang says. Cathay Pacific aims to increase its use of SAF, aiming to buy 1.1 million tonnes over 10 years to meet about 2% of overall fuel needs from 2023 onwards. The group has set a target to cut ground emissions by 32% from the 2018 baseline before 2030 by minimising engine use on the ground and bringing on board a new fuel-efficient fleet.<br/>