Climeworks collaborates with British Airways

Key take-aways:

Climeworks will permanently remove CO₂ emissions from the air on behalf of British Airways using its Direct Air Capture technology.
While initially a small volume, the partnership is designed to help stimulate and then scale the carbon removal market, vital for reaching global climate targets.
Next to in-sector emission reduction measures, carbon removal is essential for the aviation industry to reach net zero.

British Airways is Climeworks' third airline customer.

Climeworks, a global leader in carbon removal, has signed an agreement with British Airways to remove some of the airline’s CO₂ emissions, using its Direct Air Capture technology. While initially a small volume, the partnership is designed to help stimulate and then scale the carbon removal market, vital for reaching global climate targets and helping avoid the worst impacts of climate change. British Airways is the third airline to partner with Climeworks.

Net zero in aviation requires carbon removal

Next to in-sector emission reduction measures, removing hard-to-abate CO₂ emissions remaining by 2050 is imperative for the aviation industry to fulfill its net zero target. Aviation currently has limited alternatives to fossil fuels, making carbon removal essential for helping to address the emissions that cannot be eliminated.

Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, said: “There is no pathway to net zero for aviation without carbon removals. We are delighted to be working with Climeworks, whose Direct Air Capture solution provides permanent, certified removals, which is a unique quality in this young industry. While a small purchase in comparison to our total emissions, we have purchased these carbon removal credits to help stimulate the carbon removals market and help lay the groundwork for the large-scale changes needed to meet our climate goals.”

Stepping up global ambitions

Climeworks currently operates the world’s two largest Direct Air Capture plants in Iceland and has ambitious plans to scale its capacity. However, to eventually remove the required gigatons of CO₂ from the air, a suite of engineered and nature-based carbon removal solutions needs to flourish. This is why Climeworks launched Climeworks Solutions this year, offering holistic, high-quality carbon removal portfolios tailored to the individual needs of companies.

Adrian Siegrist, Chief Commercial Officer at Climeworks

Global carbon removal capacities will not grow fast enough unless we see more ambition and concrete action from the private and public sectors. British Airways is setting a strong example with its portfolio of carbon removal solutions. We look forward to working with them, as they not only understand the magnitude of the challenge but are eager to tackle it head-on.