Air New Zealand to withdraw from Science Based Target initiative

Air New Zealand announced in late July that, after careful consideration, it is removing its 2030 science-based carbon-intensity reduction target and will withdraw from the Science Based Targets initiative.   

Many of the levers needed to meet the target, including the availability of new aircraft, the affordability and availability of alternative jet fuels, and global and domestic regulatory and policy support are outside of its direct control and “remain challenging,” the airline said.

“In recent months, and more so in the last few weeks, it has also become apparent that potential delays to our fleet-renewal plan pose an additional risk to the target’s achievability,” said CEO Greg Foran.

“It is possible the airline may need to retain its existing fleet for longer than planned due to global manufacturing and supply-chain issues that could potentially slow the introduction of newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft into the fleet,” Foran continued. “As such and given so many levers needed to meet the target are outside our control, the decision has been made to retract the 2030 target and withdraw from the SBTi network immediately.”

Work has begun to consider a new near-term carbon-emissions reduction target that could better reflect the challenges relating to aircraft and alternative jet-fuel availability within the industry, the company stated.

“Air New Zealand remains committed to reaching its 2050 net-zero carbon-emissions target,” said Dame Therese Walsh, Air New Zealand’s chair.

“Our work to transition away from fossil fuels continues, as does our advocacy for the global and domestic regulatory and policy settings that will help facilitate Air New Zealand, and the wider aviation system in New Zealand, to do its part to mitigate climate-change risks,” Walsh added.