May 3: Yeti Airlines has claimed to be the first airline in Nepal to successfully reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in 2018 in accordance to the UN’s ‘Greening the Blue’ approach to climate neutrality.

The airline said in a statement that it underwent an independent carbon audit process facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that calculated the airline’s total carbon emission and laid out plans to reduce the same. 

The audit revealed that Yeti Airlines produced 19,665 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emission in 2018 from its entire operations, including flights, vehicles and other facilities. This equals to the amount of carbon released by approximately 325,165 trees growing over 10 years. The emission from its flight operations accounts for over 99.9 percent of its total GHG emissions.

As part of the emission reduction plan, between 2017 and 2018, the airline said it was able to reduce the CO2 equivalent emissions per flight km by 20 percent and per passenger by 12 percent after adopting a more fuel-efficient aircraft fleet.

The airline has achieved lower per passenger GHG emissions by expanding its fleet of fuel-efficient aircraft -- ATR72-500 -- while gradually phasing out its Jetstream 41 operations.

In addition, implementing more efficient flight operations, streamlining ground procedures, improving airport infrastructures, creating public awareness and staff training are the other vital GHG reduction strategies being enacted by the company, reads the statement.

Yeti Airlines was also able to offset its GHG emissions by procuring carbon credits (Certified Emission Reductions) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) through ‘Climate Neutral Now’ platform.

In the past, Yeti Airlines said it undertook various environmental and social projects such as the Yeti Green Re-forestation Project, Green Far West Project and the Everest Clean Up campaign.

“Providing the largest network of flight routes in Nepal, Yeti Airlines works tirelessly to raise its standards of customer service whilst working to help protect the environment in which it exists,” said Umesh Chandra Rai, chief executive officer of Yeti Airlines.

“We have pledged to demonstrate our leadership in aligning and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in every opportunity, particularly promoting Gender Equality, Climate Action and Partnership for the Goals. To keep its promise of remaining carbon neutral, Yeti Airlines is further committed to work together with UNDP on community level climate adaptation initiatives in the future.”