SWISS is well aware of its responsibilities towards the environment and future generations, and firmly focusses on environmental issues and considerations as part of its wide-ranging sustainability strategy.
Environmental responsibility
Our CO₂ targets
Flight operations
- 50% reduction in net CO2 emissions by 2030 (compared to 2019)
- CO2-neutral aviation by 2050 (net zero)
Ground operations
- CO2-neutral mobility by 2030
SBTi: Lufthansa Group’s specific reduction target for 2030 was validated by the independent Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) in August 2022.
Through a comprehensive range of actions and supplementary investments in climate protection projects, SWISS plans to halve its net carbon dioxide emissions from their 2019 levels by 2030. The company further aims to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Between now and 2030, SWISS, as part of the Lufthansa Group, will continue to pursue a clear emissions reduction path that has been validated by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi).
SWISS is aware that the impact of aviation on the climate is not limited to carbon dioxide emissions and their effects. Together with the Lufthansa Group, SWISS is closely involved in research projects that are specifically aimed at investigating the climatic impact of non-CO2 emissions and possible ways of reducing these, and is actively driving such endeavours.
In line with its integrated environmental approach, SWISS places a particular emphasis on putting its ground operations on a sustainable footing, and aims to make these entirely carbon-neutral by 2030. SWISS has also used only green energy for its ground operations since 2019.
Strategy
Decarbonizing air transport is a considerable challenge that will require the development and the scaling-up of numerous new technologies. SWISS promotes and supports such endeavours by participating in corresponding research and pilot projects and pursuing appropriate alliances as part of the Lufthansa Group.
The carbon targets set will only be achieved through a multitude of actions. These SWISS is taking together with its customers and its partners in various areas. SWISS is closely involved, for instance, in bringing solar fuels to market, and has concluded a strategic partnership with the Synhelion company to this end.
To achieve its 2030 carbon emissions reduction goal, SWISS is firmly committed to further modernizing its aircraft fleet, steadily further enhancing its flight operations, using sustainable aviation fuel and supplementing this with investments in climate protection projects.
In addition to reducing CO2 emissions in flight operations, SWISS is committed to improving its environmental scorecard in other areas.
Where our flight operations stand today
SWISS has successfully reduced its specific fuel consumption – expressed in litres of kerosene used to transport a passenger over a distance of 100 km – by 27% from 2003 to 2023. The specific fuel consumption for the transport of a passenger over a distance of 100 kilometres was 3.22 litres in 2023. This corresponds to 81 grams of CO2 per passenger-kilometre. In comparison: in Switzerland, the average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars are approx. 130 g/km.
