Delta Air Lines Joins Coalitions Aimed at Sustainability

Delta Air Lines announced Wednesday it is joining three coalitions aimed at helping the aviation industry reach a sustainable future.

The carrier is taking part in:

“The only real way for us to impact climate change is for everyone to align behind a net-zero emissions goal,” Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s managing director of sustainability, said in a statement. “These coalitions unite resources, investments and minds to collectively work towards sustainable aviation, where our customers do not have to choose between seeing the world and saving it.”

The LEAF Coalition

This group brings together public and private action to accelerate efforts to reduce and end tropical deforestation by 2030.

Tropical deforestation contributes approximately three times more global carbon emissions than the aviation industry. In 2020, 12 percent more tropical forest was lost due to deforestation than in 2019. Delta has entered into a letter of intent by which it will be the first airline and first organization in the “hard to abate” sector to join the LEAF Coalition. By joining LEAF, Delta may purchase high-quality carbon credits to support its work to be a carbon-neutral airline.

Clean Skies for Tomorrow

This coalition, under the World Economic Forum, unites global groups of airlines, airports, fuel suppliers, and other industry stakeholders to accelerate the supply and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions up to 80 percent compared with conventional jet fuel.

The aviation industry has been moving quickly this year to work toward making SAF more common. Earlier this month, President Biden challenged aviation industry leaders to create 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030, adding a goal for a carbon-free U.S. aviation sector by 2050.

Race to Zero

Delta has signed this United Nations-led alliance. As part of Race to Zero, Delta has committed to setting net zero 2050 and interim goals through the Science Based Targets initiative for its airline operations.