Southwest Airlines will fund $10 million in research and technology developments at Yale University’s Center for Natural Carbon Capture that is geared toward reducing net greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change.
According to a statemnt, Southwest defined sustainability as one of its priorities: «This commitment complements initiatives to improve environmental stewardship across the airline. Last month, Southwest announced a 10-year plan to maintain carbon neutrality at 2019 levels while continuing to grow its operations and stated its long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.»
Stacy Malphurs, Vice President of Supply Chain Management & Environmental Sustainability, stated that «this innovative partnership provides Southwest with the opportunity to support the development of pivotal science to fight climate change, including encouraging innovative research directed at informing and advancing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.»
The airline’s financial support will come through the Southwest Airlines Foundation and will also be used to support the Yale School of the Environment’s research and development work to examine topics such as the current state of sustainability initiatives, strategies, policies and economics, with an emphasis on their impact on the airline industry.
According to Michael Crair, Vice-Rector for Research at Yale, «The climate crisis is the greatest challenge we face as a species (…) Finding solutions will require the best efforts of scientists and policy experts at Yale and around the world. It is a joint challenge and I am very grateful that Southwest Airlines has taken a step forward to join our efforts in creating a sustainable future.»
Southwest reported that, with this agreement, the airline affirms its commitment to the long-term decarbonization of the industry by addressing various strategies aimed at meeting net-zero emissions targets by 2050, as well as guidelines set by the U.S. government for the sector.
