Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change

Environmental Achievements

• Became the first airline to begin using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on an ongoing daily basis in 2016.
• Named the Eco-Airline of the Year by Air Transport World magazine in June 2021 (third time).
• Consumed more of the global supply of SAF than any other airline in 2020.

Social Achievements

• Not disclosed

Governance Achievements

• Established board-level oversight of climate-related issues through the Public Responsibility Committee.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Increased direct costs due to climate change-related regulations on fuel or mandates to purchase SAF.
• Decreased revenues due to reduced demand for products and services from reputational risks.
• Increased indirect (operating) costs due to carbon pricing mechanisms (CORSIA).

Mitigation Strategies

• "100% Green" climate commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 without traditional carbon offsets.
• Investments in SAF development, carbon capture and sequestration technology, and electric aircraft.
• Fuel efficiency measures, including optimizing flight procedures, maintaining aircraft, reducing aircraft weight, and reducing fuel consumption on the ground.
• Advocacy for incentive-based policy mechanisms to grow sustainable aviation fuel supply.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 74% of suppliers by number, 59% total procurement spend

Responsible Procurement

• Integration of climate change into supplier evaluation processes, Request for Proposal process with environmentally focused questions

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme weather, poor air quality, wildfires

Transition Risks

• Emerging regulations (SAF mandates, carbon pricing), shifts in consumer preferences

Opportunities

• Reduced operating costs through use of lower-emission energy sources (SAF, electric aircraft), increased revenues from increased demand for low-carbon products and services

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: CDP, CDSB, TCFD

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: ERM Certification and Verification Services Inc. (ERM CVS)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), electric ground support equipment (GSE), electric aircraft

Awards & Recognition

• Newsweek’s Global 500 Green Rankings (No. 1 in 2018), Air Transport World magazine's Eco-Airline of the Year (2021)

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Governance
• Safety
• Environmental Sustainability
• People & DEI
• Community

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced total waste by over 6000 tons and improved annual recycling total by more than 1000 tons in 2022.
• Became the first U.S. airline to show customers an estimate of their flight’s carbon footprint when booking.
• First airline globally to announce publicly a climate goal without reliance on traditional carbon offsets.

Social Achievements

• Only airline to make the Diversity Inc. 2022 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list.
• Achieved near-perfect pay equity for employees of all genders and races performing comparable work across U.S. management roles.
• Launched Calibrate, a DOL-registered apprenticeship program for aviation maintenance technicians with a focus on underrepresented groups.

Governance Achievements

• Enhanced disclosures on climate strategy, metrics and targets and risks and governance.
• Established the Sustainable Flight Fund, a first-of-its-kind investment vehicle focused specifically on SAF technologies.
• Implemented targeted internal policies and procedures to support the global fight against human trafficking.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Aviation is a hard-to-abate sector.
• Supply chain disruptions due to extreme weather events.
• Potential for decreased revenues due to reduced demand for products and services.

Mitigation Strategies

• Developed a climate strategy centered around four key pathways: Reduce, Innovate, Remove, and Collaborate.
• Maintains supplier and supply chain diversity to minimize potential disruptions.
• Continuously evaluates changes in market demand and adjusts capacity accordingly.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Added provisions regarding fair labor practices to supply contracts.
• Conduct due diligence with respect to counterparties and their operations.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme storms
• Flooding
• Wildfires
• Heat stress
• Turbulence
• Rising sea levels

Transition Risks

• GHG emissions pricing
• Increased disclosure requirements
• Limitations of government support for SAF
• Regulation regarding non-CO2 emissions
• Litigation associated with 'greenwashing' claims
• Limitations of SAF technology and availability
• Potential for decreased revenues due to reduced demand

Opportunities

• Increasing operational efficiency through more energy-efficient aircraft
• Accelerating the transition to sustainable flight through SAF development
• Policy incentives associated with SAF blending and carbon capture
• Prime mover advantage associated with SAF purchases and UAV investments
• Attraction and retention of eco-conscious consumers
• Reaching new stakeholders
• Investment opportunities in emissions reduction and removal technologies
• New sources of capital
• Diversifying and stabilizing United's energy supply chain

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: TCFD, UN Global Compact

Certifications: ISO 14064-3

Third-party Assurance: ERM Certification and Verification Services

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
• Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Initiatives related to SAF, renewable energy, and emissions reduction contribute to these goals.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Awards & Recognition

• Diversity Inc. 2022 Top 50 Companies for Diversity
• 2022 Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion
• 2022 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Safety
• Environmental sustainability
• People and human capital management
• Community
• Supply chain integrity
• Cybersecurity
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Launched the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight FundSM to support SAF research, technology, and production.
• Used an SAF blend at two new airports (London Heathrow and Los Angeles).
• Reduced severe injuries by 7.2%
• Reduced severe ergonomic injuries by 4% compared to 2022.
• Decreased reports of head bump injuries by 71% due to mandatory bump cap requirement for aircraft maintenance employees.
• More than doubled SAF usage in 2023 compared to 2022.
• Electrified more than 35% of United’s total ground support equipment fleet.
• Purchased more than a thousand pieces of electric equipment and spent $6M to install more than 350 new charging ports across its network in 2023.
• Achieved LEED Gold certification for LAX Technical Operations Center and LEED Silver for Willis Tower Corporate Support Center.

Social Achievements

• 513 frontline employees promoted into management roles.
• 75% of senior leader positions filled internally.
• Expanded resources dedicated to recruiting, development, and training.
• United Aviate Academy graduated its first class of future aviators.
• Finalized new labor agreements with pilots and IAM.
• Provided nearly 75,000 employees with human trafficking awareness and reporting procedure training since 2018.
• Achieved near-perfect pay equity for employees of all genders and races performing comparable work across U.S. management roles.
• Implemented financial counseling, launched a new wellness platform, and expanded women’s and maternal health medical plan offerings.

Governance Achievements

• 24/7 ethics and compliance helpline available to all employees.
• Established corrective action procedures for substantiated improper conduct.
• Strengthened culture of integrity through company-wide and workgroup-specific communications and questionnaires.
• Implemented targeted internal policies and procedures to support the global fight against human trafficking.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Global SAF supply constraints (less than 1% of global commercial aviation fuel usage).
• Price premium for SAF compared to conventional jet fuel.
• Lack of consistency among regulations governing single-use plastics.
• Potential impacts of climate change on operations and infrastructure (extreme weather, flooding, heat stress).
• Uncertainty about non-CO2 emissions impact of aviation.
• Potential litigation related to “greenwashing” claims.
• Limitations of SAF technology and availability.
• Costs associated with improving fleet fuel efficiency.
• Potential shifts in stakeholder preferences and reduced demand for air travel.

Mitigation Strategies

• Investing in SAF producers and technology to help scale the SAF market.
• Launching innovative funding mechanisms (Eco-Skies Alliance, Sustainable Flight Fund).
• Exploring recycling and waste minimization initiatives.
• Implementing robust environmental management system (EMS).
• Conducting climate risk and opportunities assessments.
• Developing and integrating climate change mitigation plans into financial and strategic planning.
• Proactively collaborating with stakeholders to advance understanding of non-CO2 emissions impacts.
• Communicating sustainability strategy and commitments with clarity and integrity.
• Pursuing investments in alternative fuels, advanced propulsion technologies, and carbon capture and utilization technologies.
• Engaging customers and providing transparent information about the impact of air travel.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Competitive bidding model.
• Focus on identifying businesses from underrepresented communities.
• Introduced 90 new certified diverse- and/or woman-owned businesses in 2023.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme storms, tropical cyclones, storm surge
• Drought, flooding
• Wildfires
• Extreme temperatures
• Enroute turbulence
• Heat stress

Transition Risks

• GHG emissions pricing
• Increased disclosure requirements
• Limitations of government to facilitate scale of SAF supply
• Potential litigation associated with ‘greenwashing’ claims

Opportunities

• Increasing operational efficiency through more energy-efficient aircraft
• Accelerating the transition to sustainable flight through SAF development
• Policy incentives associated with SAF blending and carbon capture
• Prime mover advantage associated with SAF purchases and UAV investments
• Attraction and retention of eco-conscious consumers
• Reaching new stakeholders
• Investment opportunities in emissions reduction and removal technologies
• New sources of capital
• Diversifying and stabilizing United’s energy supply chain

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: TCFD, GRI, UN Global Compact

Certifications: LEED Gold (LAX Technical Operations Center), LEED Silver (Willis Tower Corporate Support Center)

Third-party Assurance: ERM Certification and Verification Services (ERM CVS)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
• Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Initiatives such as SAF investment, fleet modernization, and ground equipment electrification contribute to these goals.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Recycled plastic bedding
• Reusable amenity kits with recycled materials
• Electric ground service equipment

Awards & Recognition

• A- CDP score
• SBTi validated mid-term targets
• Ranked as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies
• MSD Solutions Index Badge