JetBlue announced this week that it plans to go carbon-neutral on all domestic flights starting in July, a first for a major U.S. airline. The company’s plan involves both taking steps to reduce its flights’ overall carbon emissions and increasing its investment in carbon offsets, which are environmental projects that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
“Air travel connects people and cultures, and supports a global economy, yet we must act to limit this critical industry’s contributions to climate change,” chief executive Robin Hayes said in a statement. “We reduce where we can and offset where we can’t. By offsetting all of our domestic flying, we’re preparing our business for the lower-carbon economy that aviation — and all sectors — must plan for.”
With the climate crisis worsening and with millions of flights pumping out carbon dioxide every year, air travel has become a target of global criticism. The “flight-shaming” movement has gained momentum across Europe, most recently surfacing at Sunday’s Golden Globes, when Joaquin Phoenix called out fellow actors for taking “private jets to Palm Springs” for award ceremonies.