By Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio
Viva Aerobus Continues Charge to Compensate Carbon Footprint
Viva Aerobus signed a strategic alliance with Anaconda Carbon, a company dedicated to the promotion and development of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sustainability initiatives, to launch its voluntary footprint compensation program carbon for passengers. The carbon footprint refers to all GHG emissions released into the atmosphere directly and indirectly through the airline’s operation.
According to a press release, the objective of this alliance is to offset said footprint. That is, to carry out a series of actions that neutralize the amount of GHG emissions, investing and financially supporting projects to improve the environment.
The Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier launched a voluntary compensation program that invites its passengers to join the fight against climate change. When making their flight purchase on the airline’s website, passengers can now choose the option to “offset [their] carbon footprint.”
The real carbon footprint for the trip is calculated and the corresponding amount to be compensated is indicated in accordance with the procedures established at a global level, using the metrics and methodologies established in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol of the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. All passengers who decide to participate will receive a certificate that endorses their contribution.
These resources in their first stage will be sent to a project concerning carbon, water and indigenous biodiversity in Oaxaca, Mexico, which, endorsed by the Carbon Action Reserve, aims to mitigate the environmental impact caused by forest exploitation, as well as restore areas with severe erosion or those affected by fires and pests. This initiative also helps protect and prevent damage from fire, grazing and illegal use of forest resources.
Consequently, some other benefits of this program are the protection of flora and fauna — orchids, white-tailed deer, wild boars, pumas and others — threatened by deforestation, creation of sources of employment for the local population and social and economic development regional leveraged from sustainable forest management.
In this way, Viva Aerobus and its passengers contribute to the United Nations sustainable development goals such as affordable and clean energy; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life of terrestrial ecosystems and alliances to achieve the goals, among others.
In 2020, Viva Aerobus reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability with the launch of its environmental culture, “El Futuro es Verde,” a series of actions and commitments that strengthen it as the greenest airline in Mexico and today presents the second edition with updates and new commitments, such as the alliance with Anaconda Carbon.
Last year, the Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier Viva Aerobus became the first airline in Mexico to separate waste during its flights in order to recycle it, and today, Viva Aerobus continues to be the airline with the lowest amount of carbon dioxide emissions per passenger in Mexico.
This is thanks to its efficient operation, characterized by high load factors and the cutting-edge technology of its aircraft, with the youngest fleet in Mexico and the second youngest in North America — 4.2 years on average — with highly efficient engines in terms of fuel usage.
In addition, the airline has set itself the goal of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions per seat kilometer and carbon dioxide emissions per passenger kilometer by more than 15% by 2025.
The three things Juan Pedro loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.