Bangkok--22 Mar--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Qantas and Jetstar are the first major airlines to achieve carbon neutral certification for their carbon offset programs under the Australian Government’s new National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).
The NCOS Carbon Neutral initiative is a voluntary certification scheme which allows Australian businesses to measure, reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with business operations or products. This Government initiative is delivered by the Australian Carbon Trust which acts as an independent accreditation body.
“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,” says 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 said.
Qantas Group Chief Risk Officer, Mr Rob Kella, said the Group’s carbon offset scheme was part of a comprehensive environment strategy.
"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,” Mr 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 Carbon Neutral Program commenced on 1 July 2010 as a successor scheme to the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly? initiative.
Media contact:
Australian Carbon Trust - Media line - 0457 732 219
Qantas Group — Thomas Woodward- 0424 245 265
Aziam Burson-Marsteller, Bangkok 66-83-198-4722
About Australian Carbon Trust
The Australian Carbon Trust was established to encourage and promote take-up of energy efficient technologies and practises to help accelerate the move to a low carbon economy.
To do this, the Australian Carbon Trust works with businesses to showcase leading edge approaches to energy efficiency investment, initially by providing financing and advice for energy efficiency improvements through retrofitting of commercial buildings.
The financial vehicles being created through the Energy Efficiency Program will enable property owners, business and public sector organisations to access innovative finance solutions for upgrades to energy efficiency equipment.
The Australian Carbon Trust manages two innovative programs:
An Energy Efficiency Program to provide finance and advice to eligible businesses and the public sector for the retrofit of commercial properties. The Carbon Neutral Program which provides accreditation for organisations that have products or operations being certified as carbon neutral under the National Carbon Offset Standard.The Australian Carbon Trust was set up by the Australian Government in 2010 as a company limited by guarantee, with an independent board of directors.
For more information about the Australian Carbon Trust visit www.australiancarbontrust.com.au
Further details of the Qantas and Jetstar carbon offset programs
- Qantas and Jetstar commit to pass on all funds contributed to, and make no profit from, their carbon offset programs.
- Qantas and Jetstar play their part by offsetting emissions generated by employee work travel flights and by their ground vehicles.
- Funds collected by Qantas and Jetstar are currently used to purchase carbon credits that support the creation of renewable energy projects in developing countries selected for their environmental and community benefits.
- There are currently no Australia-based carbon offset credits available for purchase that meet the rigorous requirements of the NCOS.
- Qantas and Jetstar will evaluate permanent Australia—based carbon offset credits as they become available.
More information: http://www.qantas.com/environment and http://www.jetstar.com