Climate Change Data

Aer Lingus

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2023)

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:2,252,397 tCO2e/year (Scope 1)
Scope 1 Emissions:2,252,397 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:3,542 tCO2e/year (location-based), 420 tCO2e/year (market-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:585,369 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:88% (electricity)
Total Energy Consumption:10,682,504 kWh/year
Waste Generated:See Waste Reduction Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Climate Change
  • Waste Reduction
  • Supply Chain Sustainability
  • Air Quality
  • Noise Reduction

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced ground fleet emissions by up to 90% using HVO fuel.
  • Added two new Airbus A320neo aircraft to short-haul fleet, delivering up to 20% fuel savings and CO2 reduction.
  • Became the first Irish airline to be awarded IEnvA stage 2 certification.
  • Became the first airline to segregate and recycle onboard waste on short-haul flights into Ireland.
  • Procured sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the first time at London Heathrow (750 tonnes).

Social Achievements

  • Received the Sustainability & Environment Award at the 2023 Irish Aviation Industry Awards.
  • Improved employee engagement through initiatives like LED mood lighting and dynamic load planning technology.

Governance Achievements

  • Implemented a robust sustainability governance structure including a Sustainability Steering Group, SAF Steering Group, and People Working Group.
  • Embedded sustainability impacts into core business processes, including business case approvals and risk management.
  • Achieved an A- grade from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for climate change disclosure (as part of IAG).

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net zero CO2 emissions – Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 by 2050.
Medium-term Goals:
  • 10% of annual fuel consumption to be SAF by 2030.
  • 20% reduction in Group net CO2 emissions by 2030 vs 2019.
  • 10% improvement in fuel efficiency to 80g CO2/pkm in 2025 vs 2019.
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce onboard waste by 20% and recycle 40% of onboard waste by 2025.
  • Zero single-use plastics onboard by 2025 (except where no viable alternative exists).

Environmental Challenges

  • High cost of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
  • Need to scale up SAF production.
  • Decarbonising aviation is a significant, multi-stakeholder undertaking.
  • Fragmented European airspace leading to inefficiencies.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Investing in new technology aircraft (up to 20% fuel savings).
  • Investing in SAF (aiming for 10% SAF by 2030; contracts signed with Gevo and Aemetis).
  • Improving operational efficiencies (single-engine taxiing, efficient flight planning).
  • Advocating for increased government support and incentives for SAF production in Ireland and the EU.
  • Supporting the Single European Sky (SES) proposal.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 18 independent CSR audits in 2023; 90% of IAG's supply chain (by spending) assessed through EcoVadis.

Responsible Procurement
  • Supplier Code of Conduct.
  • Sustainability Clause.
  • EcoVadis assessments.
  • CSR audits.
  • Integration of sustainability KPIs into procurement processes.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Transition Risks
  • High cost and limited availability of SAF.
Opportunities
  • Development and adoption of SAF.

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: TCFD, IEnvA

Certifications: IEnvA Stage 2

Third-party Assurance: Third-party verification for IAG Annual Report; independent verification of emissions data for compliance with emissions trading schemes.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3
  • SDG 8
  • SDG 7
  • SDG 9
  • SDG 11
  • SDG 12
  • SDG 13

Aer Lingus activities support these SDGs as detailed on pages 8, 10, 18, 23, 24, 30.

Awards & Recognition

  • Sustainability & Environment Award at the 2023 Irish Aviation Industry Awards.