China Airlines is committed to achieving “net zero carbon emissions” by 2050 to support international initiatives on carbon reduction. The Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) conducted by CDP named China Airlines one of top operators in the global airline industry. The Leadership Status rating represents a further international recognition of China Airlines’ proactive approach to realizing environmentally sustainable development.
CDP was set up by leading international investment institutions and every year invites large international enterprises to answer questions on their climate strategy and management performance. The information is then used by international investment institutions as a reference for assessing investments. CDP is currently one of the most authoritative ratings on climate change and carbon risk management among international enterprises. As the first transport company in Taiwan to voluntarily provide its climate-related risk management strategy and performance information for ten consecutive years, China Airlines focuses its efforts on enhancing international management capabilities, routine updates and deployment of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) operating mechanisms, and communicating with external stakeholders. In recent years, China Airlines has established an industry-leading value chain and energy risk management mechanism that covers climate change and carbon management topics. The mechanism is used to actively detect environmental, energy and carbon risks in the value chain and CAL Group operations. The performance of related processes was recognized during CDP assessment resulting in a well-deserved SER rating of Leadership.
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) has become a key measure for the international aviation industry in realizing the goal of net zero by 2050. To ensure that the Taiwanese airline industry keeps up with the latest international developments in sustainability, China Airlines became the first airline in Taiwan to use SAF when ferrying new A350-900 aircraft back to Taiwan in 2017. Since 2021 every A321neo next-generation green passenger aircraft has used 10% SAF in their fuel for ferry flights. The change reduces carbon emissions by approximately 80% compared to conventional aviation fuel. China Airlines also drew on its extensive experience with the operational use of SAF to host a SAF Promotion Strategy Conference in Taiwan on February 14, 2022, with key domestic industry, academic, education and research units in attendance. Recommendations on the promotion strategy were proposed at the conference and China Airlines’ sustainability efforts were rated highly. In the future, China Airlines will continue to take the lead among Taiwanese carriers and make its own contribution to the development of SAFs by the global airline industry.
China Airlines continues to refine the quality of its environmental sustainability management, and international sustainability and competitiveness. In addition to being the first airline in Taiwan to introduce ISO 14064-1 enterprise GHG emissions inventory, downstream and upstream value chains as well as supply chain identification and quantification operations were carried out. The Group's carbon management capabilities were actively improved, and China Airlines even became the first airline in Taiwan to implement the ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 enterprise environment and energy management systems. China airlines continues to take the lead in sustainability upgrades for Taiwan's transport sector and connects with the international community. Additionally, it actively supports international initiatives and supported the Earth Hour event on March 26 for the 14th time. Group companies will be mobilized once more to promote energy-efficiency and environmentally-friendly activities in Taiwan's residential and commercial sectors.
China Airlines strives to fulfill its corporate social responsibility and has been the only Taiwanese company to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for six consecutive years, and has been a constituent stock of FTSE4Good Emerging Index. Other awards include the Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Award and the Global Corporate Sustainability Award. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, China Airlines remains committed to expanding in all areas as it seeks to fulfill its pledge to sustainable management.