Economic measures are the fourth thrust in the strategy to protect the environment. They come into play whenever the other three thrusts are not effective enough to reach the desired objectives.
Fuel taxes or emissions trading are economic measures that have been proposed to make reducing CO2 emissions more attractive to airlines. These decisions are largely outside of the control of individual airlines. SWISS is principally in favour of a global emissions trading system (ETS) and has joined an international working group to design a global ETS. The advantage of such a market solution is that it cuts CO2 emissions wherever this is most efficient. By contrast, a regional system – like the one adopted by the EU – would distort competition.
Reducing CO2 emissions elsewhere
SWISS enables eco-minded customers to pay a voluntary surcharge to offset the CO2 emissions from their flight. The surcharge for a round-trip flight between Zurich and New York, for example, would be CHF 40 in Economy Class. SWISS invests the funds in climate projects around the world so that customers can do their part to support SWISS in its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.
The CO2 offsets are managed in cooperation with myclimate, a non-profit foundation in Switzerland. The CO2 emissions for the route are computed by SWISS's CO2 calculator, which is based on analyses of more than 60,000 SWISS and Lufthansa flights. SWISS and myclimate then calculate how much it would cost to offset this carbon footprint. Myclimate invests the passenger's fee in projects specially selected together with SWISS. The foundation makes sure that the projects really offset the specified amount of CO2. SWISS only funds projects that meet the highest international standard available today: the WWF Gold Standard. These initiatives have to meet very strict environmental and also humanitarian criteria.
Pioneering carbon offset projects
SWISS currently supports two projects in India. In the South Indian state of Karnataka, agricultural waste (biomass) that had previously gone to waste and was burnt on the fields is now being used to produce heat and power. The project will reduce CO2 emissions by roughly 160,000 metric tonnes over seven years.
A project in the state of Bihar is set to electrify 100 villages with small biomass gasification power stations in cooperation with a well-known Indian firm. The plants will be fuelled with biological waste and natural local renewable materials.
