Q&A: Why British Airways Uses Carbon Removals

Aviation is a powerful economic engine, generating around US$3.5tn in economic activity and supporting nearly 90 million jobs. 

Global connectivity, humanitarian and emergency services, transportation, logistics and even social development make this industry a critical infrastructure in modern life. 

Despite the benefits it brings, aviation has contributed around 4% of total global warming and continues to be an industry responsible for around 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

But what if humanity could reap the benefits of air transport without causing harm to the environment?

Carbon removals present an opportunity for the industry to mitigate emissions. 

Transporting more than 40 million passengers per year, British Airways is the United Kingdom’s flag carrier airline. 

British Airways has been investing in carbon removals since 2018 and in September 2024 became the largest airline purchaser of carbon removals, purchasing 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits through carbon removal platform CUR8. 

Carrie Harris is Director of Sustainability at British Airways and joined the airline in 2020, working to make sustainability a central focus of its corporate strategy. 

In 2021 the company launched its BA Better World strategy which set its path to net zero, including improving operational efficiency, scaling up sustainable aviation fuel and looking to accelerate the growth of new technologies like hydrogen-powered aircraft. 

Marta Krupinska is the Co-Founder and CEO of CUR8, the leading science, procurement and management platform for corporations to manage carbon removals.

Marta also chairs marine cleantech start-up ACUA Ocean and global charity Youth Business International.

CUR8 aims to remove a billion tonnes of carbon from the air by 2030, bringing together leading scientists and climate software to help companies like British Airways, Coca-Cola HBC and Standard Chartered Bank. 

Carrie and Marta share their insights with Sustainability Magazine.

Why are carbon removals necessary?

Marta: The recent, tragic natural disasters across Europe and the United States were a stark reminder that we need to do everything in our power to mitigate and reverse the effects of the climate crisis.

Carbon removal is a vital part of this; the UN IPCC calls it 'unavoidable'.

This is because shrinking our carbon footprint is only part of the solution – though carbon removal is crucial for that, too, especially in sectors with a tough road to net zero, like aviation. We need to deal with historic emissions, which means actively taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and storing it permanently.

Only carbon removals can do this, and businesses are in a fantastic position to lead the charge.

Carbon removal takes many forms, both nature-based and human-engineered. Reforestation is one option and Direct Air Capture, which uses chemical reactions to pull CO₂ out of the air, is another.

Not all carbon credits are equal, which is why extensive due diligence and carbon removal portfolios are so valuable for businesses. We take care of both, which means that each carbon credit bought really equates to a tonne of carbon removed and stored for good.

Why has British Airways chosen to begin their carbon removal journey? 

Carrie: This isn’t something new to British Airways – we have been investing in carbon removals, albeit on a smaller scale, since 2018. But as we approach the halfway point in this critical decade of action, British Airways is sharpening its focus to deliver real, tangible progress by 2030. 

We know flying has a significant impact on the planet and achieving net zero by 2050 requires bold, innovative action today, as well as long-term transformation. Our latest purchase of a portfolio of carbon removals with CUR8 reflects this commitment. While small in comparison to our total emissions, the carbon removals credits we’ve purchased so far are crucial in stimulating the carbon removals market. 

By supporting pioneering solutions, we’re not only contributing to immediate progress but also laying the groundwork for the large-scale changes needed to meet our climate goals. We believe there is no pathway to net zero for aviation without carbon removals.

​​Can you elaborate on the business case for carbon removals? 

Marta: The carbon removals space has the potential to become a trillion-dollar industry. The IPCC estimates that reaching our 1.5C target will entail removing around 10 gigatonnes of CO₂ every year by 2050.

Businesses that embrace carbon removals early gain a competitive advantage in an increasingly climate-conscious corporate landscape. They drive innovation and help shape this lucrative market as it evolves. Leaders like Microsoft have already invested upwards of US$1bn into carbon removal to de-risk their net zero.

Secondly, they can build a kind of muscle memory for the future. Climate-focused legislation is in the process being rolled out over the next few years. Those businesses that move now will gain the expertise and insights needed ahead of compliance markets. This is particularly true for companies in heavy emitting sectors that will require access to abundant and low cost carbon removal.

Thirdly, carbon removal prices are rising and there will be constraints around high-quality supply. Businesses that start now benefit from lower prices, greater removal diversity, and more durable carbon credits.

Fourthly – and it also goes without saying – businesses have a meaningful climate impact and support an industry that is crucial to our fight against climate change.

What role will carbon removal play into British Airways' net zero strategy programme? 

Carrie: While reducing the emissions generated from our operations and increasing our use of SAF remains our primary focus, carbon removals are also a vital part of our flightpath to net zero. 

Through our BA Better World programme, we have a clear roadmap to net zero which includes three main parts: investing in new, modern aircraft that are up to 35% more efficient than the aircraft they replace, and making changes to the way we fly to further reduce our emissions; investing in alternative fuels including power-to-liquid; and purchasing carbon removals. This is in addition to forming partnerships to support the development of zero emissions hydrogen-powered aircraft. 

Achieving our climate goals will require a range of approaches, including carbon removals solutions. 

What is your advice to leaders considering carbon removals?

Marta: It's really promising that businesses are turning the corner and understanding the vital role carbon removals will play in their wider commercial and sustainability strategy. But the question they find themselves asking is where to start.

Start with education. Carbon removal is a business-wide priority that can be turned from a potential liability into an asset with the right support from the wider business. Help them understand how removals fit into your broader commercial goals.

Navigate the market. The carbon removal market is complex and dynamic. It’s important to learn how to take advantage of the wide variety of projects that align with your goals as a business.

Ensure credit quality. Not all carbon removal projects are born equal. Extensive due diligence in project selection is essential. Considering factors like durability, draw-down speed and biodiversity.

Take a portfolio approach. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. A diverse portfolio of removal projects brings down risks as you make your way to net zero.

Partnering up. Picking the right net-zero partner can rapidly accelerate your progress.

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