British Airways Secures $11 Million Deal Becoming UK's Largest Buyer of Carbon Removals

British Airways (BA) has just signed an $11 million agreement with CUR8 to acquire 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits. This significant six-year commitment makes BA the largest buyer of carbon removals in the airline industry.

This deal is part of BA's broader strategy to ramp up climate action. As the airline pushes toward net zero by 2050, it expects about one-third of its emissions reduction to come from carbon removal credits. The remaining cuts will be achieved through advances in aircraft technology, improved operational efficiencies, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use.

While 33,000 tonnes may seem modest compared to the airline's total emissions, according to CUR8 and BA, it stands out as one of the largest carbon removal offtake agreements worldwide.

CUR8 will manage a diverse portfolio of six carbon removal projects. These include a pioneering initiative in Scotland that stores whisky distillery emissions in building materials, biochar projects in India, and a groundbreaking approach to 'stacking' reforestation credits from Welsh Sequoia trees alongside innovative ocean and river projects across North America.

"As we approach the halfway point in this critical decade of action, we're sharpening our focus on delivering real, tangible progress by 2030," said Carrie Harris, director of sustainability at British Airways. "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."

British Airways has previously purchased carbon removal credits from 1PointFive, a global leader in direct air capture technology. In collaboration with CUR8, 1PointFive is building the world’s first plant capable of capturing carbon at the megatonne scale.

Additionally, CUR8, alongside British Airways and Standard Chartered Bank, pioneered the world’s first forward-financing model for carbon removal last year, further demonstrating BA’s commitment to driving innovation in the carbon removal industry.

"This partnership with CUR8 reflects our commitment, and we're delighted to be working with them again," Harris added. "While small compared to our total emissions, the projects within this portfolio 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. There is no pathway to net zero for aviation without carbon removals."

As per today's announcement, the latest carbon removal credits were sourced, evaluated, and procured through CUR8's rigorous scientific due diligence process. This process aligns with the Revised Oxford Offsetting Principles, ensuring that the credits meet high standards of credibility and impact in addressing carbon emissions.

"British Airways understands that carbon removals are not a nice-to-have, but an essential part of the aviation sector's net zero journey," said Marta Krupinska, CEO of CUR8. "We've been proud to partner with this aviation leader to build a portfolio that combines the best of nature and human engineering, stretching from UK soils to the oceans and rivers of Canada.

"At CUR8, we bring together the world's leading scientists and climate software to help organisations source and manage carbon removals to help de-risk their net zero future. British Airways is a leading brand that recognises that with this early investment, it can help to make an impact not only for themselves but for the industry at large."

The deal comes amid major carbon removal announcements, including Meta’s recent long-term agreement with Brazil's BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group to supply 1.3 million nature-based credits. Additionally, Shopify has launched a dedicated platform to help carbon credit suppliers sell their credits with the same ease and scale as other merchants using its services.

On the same day, British Airways also inked an agreement with Climeworks, a direct air capture technology leader, to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. While the initial volumes are small, the partnership aims to contribute to scaling Climeworks' technology. This move made British Airways the third airline to collaborate with Climeworks on carbon removal efforts.