The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is making significant strides in its efforts to improve the accuracy and transparency of carbon emissions calculations in the aviation industry. During the first World Sustainability Symposium held in Madrid, Spain, IATA signed agreements with several airlines and airline groups to expand its CO2 Connect emissions calculator. The airlines and airline groups joining as data contributors to CO2 Connect include Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Baltic, LATAM Airlines Group, Luxair, and Nile Air. This move is part of IATA’s ongoing initiative to enhance the quality and reliability of emissions data, which is crucial for carbon offsetting, environmental reporting, and sustainability efforts within the aviation sector.
CO2 Connect, launched by IATA in June 2022, stands out from other emissions calculators due to its unique approach. Instead of relying on theoretical models and assumptions, CO2 Connect utilizes actual airline data, such as fuel burn, belly cargo, and load factors. This approach ensures that emissions calculations are based on real-world operational data, making them more accurate and reliable.