LATAM to go CO2 neutral on Fridays

LATAM Airlines Group will offset the CO2 emissions of nine passenger and cargo routes in Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Colombia every Friday from March 17 through its “Let’s Fly Neutral on Friday” programme.

Through this initiative, which is part of the Group’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, LATAM will support conservation projects that prevent deforestation in strategic ecosystems in South America by offsetting CO2 emissions generated on routes.

LATAM will offset cargo flights including Iquitos – Lima, Guayaquil – Baltra Island, Brasília – Belém and Bogotá – Miami routes.

Passenger routes will also be offset at a regional level, including Santiago – Chiloé, Galapagos – Guayaquil, Arequipa – Cusco, Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo.

LATAM plans to gradually incorporate new routes and more conservation projects in each country in the coming months.

Each carbon dioxide (CO2) ton emitted on these routes will be offset with a carbon credit, equivalent to one ton of CO2 captured by a conservation project.

The carbon offsetting of these routes will initially be managed through the CO2BIO flooded savanna conservation project, located in the Colombian Orinoquía, a strategic ecosystem focused on biodiversity.

The initiative will conserve 200,000 hectares of floodable savannah, habitat for more than 2,000 species.

Over the next few months, LATAM Airline Group hopes to announce new conservation projects in the areas where it operates, which will allow for progress in three areas: protecting the natural heritage of South America, tackling climate change through greater CO2 capture, and contributing to the quality of life of local communities.

Juan José Tohá, director of corporate affairs and sustainability of LATAM, said: “This initiative is another step that we have been implementing to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Let’s Fly Neutral on Friday will allow us to turn one day of the week into an opportunity to support strategic ecosystem conservation projects in the region. These projects not only offset CO2 emissions, they also contribute to protecting the biodiversity and the economic development of communities.”

LATAM Airlines has already taken steps towards reducing its emissions with the purchase of 28 new A320neo aircraft last year.

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