SITA, the global air transport IT provider, has released its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) annual report, which reveals that despite the pandemic, the company remains poised to become a certified carbon neutral organization by or before 2022.
This achievement is ahead of common airline targets such as 2030 and 2050, or those of the Paris Agreement. SITA's goal to reduce its contribution to climate change is being realized through the company's Planet+ program.
The program aims to define and measure emissions, working with RSK Group's independent environmental consultants to consistently reduce the environmental impacts of operations and business travel year on year, complementing these actions with offset initiatives.
Through Planet+, SITA reduced overall emissions by 48% in 2020, totaling around 11.423 tonnes of CO2.
This has been achieved through various initiatives such as switching to renewable or partially renewable energy, opting for green energy providers, optimizing the office's ecological footprint, and decreasing electricity consumption with more energy efficient devices – reducing travel. for internal meetings through the use of online collaboration tools.
In 2020, SITA also offset 100% of its emissions for the first time. SITA's carbon offset program is managed by Natural Capital Partners, a leading global provider of environmentally sustainable emission offset programs.
The 2020 offset program was not applied exclusively to business travel emissions as in previous years, but was extended to include all operational emissions reported and audited in Scope 1 (direct and controlled emissions), Scope 2 (electricity) and Scope 3 (upstream and downstream emissions, including those generated by SITA employees working from home).
Dr. Edna Ayme-Yahil, Vice President of Communications, Brand and Sustainability, said:
“As part of our overall commitment to reducing carbon emissions across the air transport industry, we were keen to lead by example by taking real, concrete steps to reduce our impact on the environment. This is paying off very much and SITA is well on track to meet our goal of becoming a certified carbon neutral company by 2022.”
SITA's carbon neutral program
In 2019, SITA announced its commitment to become a certified Carbon Neutral company by 2022, in line with the CarbonNeutral Protocol. This protocol requires organizations to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions by defining operations-related emissions, measuring them, reducing them, and then offsetting those remaining that have not been reduced or removed through verified carbon offset projects. carbon in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
ing the global air transport industry
With nearly 2.500 customers, SITA's solutions drive efficiency at over 1.000 airports and facilitate safe, seamless border crossings for over 60 governments, while delivering the benefits of connected aircraft to customers of 18.000 aircraft across the world. world.
In addition to managing its own economic, environmental and social impacts, SITA's CSR report mentions an immediate shift in early 2020 to its air transport industry customers during the pandemic, ensuring business continuity and maintaining normal levels of service.
SITA was articulated to meet urgent industry demands for a healthy, safe and frictionless enger experience – to reassure engers and enable “COVID-compliant” travel. In addition, the company has met the requirements of airlines, airports and governments for agility, resiliency, efficiency and cost containment – modifying and adapting its solutions in areas vital to recovery and survival.
To achieve its ambition to be carbon neutral soon, SITA continues to drive the industry to be more sustainable with solutions that aim to reduce carbon emissions.
For example, a partnership with Safety Line to offer the OptiFlight solution – which reduces fuel consumption and limits the aircraft's CO2 emissions in key flight phases – offers estimated fuel savings and carbon emissions of 234 kg per climb for a B777, with a reduction of 214 tonnes of CO2 per year per tail of the aircraft.
Global structures and initiatives
SITA's commitment to being a responsible and sustainable business is reflected in participation and hip in several leading global frameworks. Since 2011, SITA has formally reported its economic, environmental and social performance using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting framework.
As a signatory to the UN Global Compact, SITA communicates its commitments to implementing sustainability practices and principles that UN goals through these CSR Reports.
Since 2014, SITA has achieved and maintained ISO14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems) certification – a milestone for organizations committed to sustainable operations – in seven of its main offices.
Street: SITA
