 Kenya Airways is one of the best and most respected airline companies in Africa. |
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By Millicent Njeri / Press Release
The United Kingdom (UK) Environment Agency has approved Kenya Airways’ participation in the European Union Environmental Management Program through a legally binding initiative known as European Union Environment Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). The UK Environmental Agency is the regulator assigned to Kenya Airways by the EU Commission for purposes of EU-ETS Scheme.
This follows the submission of a Carbon Emissions Management & Monitoring Plans by Kenya Airways that will enable the carrier measure, manage and reduce its carbon footprint. The plan focuses on monitoring and controlling air pollutants especially the carbon emissions that have been identified as a major contributor to climate change.
The European Union Environment Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) is a legislation passed by the EU Parliament that now includes and requires all airlines with operations to, from and within the EU to develop carbon management solutions that will conserve the environment. The EU-ETS Scheme has developed criteria that will see carbon emissions generated from the operations of each affected airline accounted for and capped at a given limit beyond which conscious efforts must be taken to mitigate further environmental risks.
The EU-ETS Scheme requires that a percentage of total carbon emissions must be retired by participating airlines and in the event that carbon emissions generated exceed the capped limit then the affected airline must purchase carbon credits from the market or offset same quantities through investment in UN-certified cleaner development projects; such projects must demonstrate real significance in contributing to environmental sustainability and addressing environmental challenges.
“By securing approval of our first carbon emissions management plan, Kenya Airways confirms its commitment and capability to addressing localized and global environmental issues including the challenge of climate change by first being able to accurately account for the greenhouse gases that our operations emit and investing in environmental sustainability programs within acceptable legal and voluntary frameworks,” said Titus Naikuni, Group MD and CEO of Kenya Airways.
Recently, Kenya Airways signed a ground breaking agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to spearhead the global carbon offset trading scheme designed to help fund global environmental projects. Subsequently the airline has invested in a number of projects designed to minimise environmental pollution, including reducing noise, recycling waste products, and other environmentally friendly endeavors that will reduce the real dangers of global warming.
Other ongoing initiatives that KQ is implementing to reduce carbon emissions include purchasing new ground handling equipment, including electric tow tractors that emit very minimal environmental pollutants and are hence of environmental benefit; investment in a new aircraft fleet that is fuel efficient and will reduce carbon emissions; employing fuel saving operational techniques including optimal flight level, continuous descent approach, optimal fuel take off, idle reverse on landing and single engine during taxing and out hence less fuel burn; and Enhancing the Ngong Hills Ecosystem Restoration programme, the airline’s key initiative to clean the ecosystem.
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