Emirates to reduce carbon footprint with Move to -15c Coalition
The airline has set up a USD$ 200 million Sustainability Fund focused on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation.
Emirates has become the first airline to join the Move to -15°C Coalition, a global initiative aimed at redefining frozen food temperature standards and reducing energy consumption in the frozen food supply chain. The coalition, launched at COP28 in the UAE, brings together cross-industry partners to explore the practical application of reducing frozen food temperatures from -18°C to -15°C, with the goal of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Emirates will lend its expertise and knowledge to the coalition, drawing on its experience in handling and shipping sensitive cargo. The airline's cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo, has built a reputation for its expertise in handling perishable goods, with over 900 to 1,000 tonnes of fresh food travelling on Emirates' flights every day.
The Move to -15°C Coalition is a future-looking concept that aims to evolve the industry in line with current advancements in technology, equipment, facilities, packaging, and more. The coalition will explore the real-world implementation of reducing frozen food temperatures through data sharing, operational revisions, and collaboration with members and stakeholders.
Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo, said, “We have long been leaders in the movement of perishable food, connecting the global agricultural community with their customers across the globe and delivering freshness you can taste. The Move to -15oC coalition is a future-looking concept, bringing together likeminded partners to evolve the industry in line with current advancements in technology, equipment, facilities, packaging, and more.”
Thomas Eskesen, Chairman of the Move to -15°C Coalition, says, "The airline industry plays a vital role in the global cold chain, and having a leading airline like Emirates on board represents a key step forward for us. Ambitious climate action across the complex frozen food supply chain—which includes food production, ports, shipping, road, rail, and air freight, cold storage, and retail—can only happen through cross-sector collaboration.”
The Move to -15°C coalition was established in 2023, following the launch of the Three Degrees of Change report, an academic paper supported by global logistics firm DP World and delivered by experts from the Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration, the University of Birmingham, and London South Bank University, among others.
The airline has set up a USD$200 million Sustainability Fund, dedicated to research and development projects focused on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation. Emirates has also joined The Solent Cluster in the UK, a cross-sector collaboration aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and producing low-carbon fuels.
