The International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) has recently committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with the UK government's target.

In a statement, the multinational airline holding company, which also owns Iberia and Vueling Airlines, among others, said it expects to achieve its new emissions target through the following initiatives:

• British Airways will offset carbon emissions for all UK domestic services by 2020 through verified carbon reduction projects, including solar energy, forestation programmes and tree planting in South America, Africa and Asia; 
  
  
• Investing US$400 million in sustainable aviation fuel in the next 20 years. This includes British Airways partnership with specialist company Velocys to develop Europe's first household waste to jet fuel plant in the UK by 2024. 
  
  
• Replacing older aircraft in the IAG fleet with 142 new aircraft over the next five years, worth US$27 billion at list prices which are up to 25% more carbon-efficient;
  
  
• Exploring new carbon capture technology by partnering with US company Mosaic Materials via the IAG's start-up accelerator Hangar 51; and
  
  
• Management incentives development, in line with IAG's new targets, for employees to reduce carbon emissions across the group. 

Today aviation represents 2% of global CO2 emissions. 

"In addition to our own initiatives, there must be a global solution and we're participating in the new United Nation's aviation offsetting scheme which allows our industry to invest in carbon reduction in other sectors... Aviation's dependency on fossil fuels means that it's essential that governments support its efforts to decarbonise by providing incentives to accelerate investment in new technologies," IAG's chief executive Willie Walsh said.

Meanwhile, for British Airways plan to offset carbon emissions, British Airways CEO Alex Cruz said the airline is "determined to play its part in reducing aviation's CO2 emissions."

"To solve such a multifaceted issue requires a multifaceted response and this initiative further demonstrates our commitment to a sustainable future," he said in a statement.

The UK flag carrier currently operates up to 75 frequencies daily between London, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Isle of Man, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast City, Inverness and Jersey. 

British Airways' domestic emissions total around 400,000 tonnes of CO2 p/a.