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Thursday, 22 April, 2021

NATA Commits to Being Certified Carbon-Neutral, Advancing Sustainability Goals

Washington, DC, April 22, 2021 – The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has committed to being certified carbon-neutral, signaling NATA’s ongoing commitment to sustainability within its own operations and throughout the wider aviation community.

An industry leader in the sustainable aviation movement, NATA is a founding member of the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel and the Council on Sustainable Fuels Accountability. Within its own membership, NATA provides aviation businesses the guidance and resources to reduce carbon emissions through multiple means, including adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), biodiesel, electrification, and solar energy, as well as the use of carbon offsets. In 2020, NATA established an Environment Committee to support the industry’s long-held goal to expand access to aviation while embracing technological advancements and sound policies that promote a cleaner future.

Today, NATA is pleased to announce that the Association has committed to being carbon neutral for 2020 and moving forward. NATA is evaluating its own operations, taking measures to reduce direct and indirect carbon emissions, and investing in independently certified reforestation efforts to offset remaining carbon output.

“We’ve taken another step toward a cleaner future by taking an internal look at our own team’s environmental impact,” said NATA President and CEO Timothy Obitts. “Our industry has made great strides on a number of sustainability initiatives, and NATA has been on the forefront of working toward consistent environmental standards across industry segments. We are not just talking the talk on sustainability, however. By achieving net-zero carbon emissions in our own operations, we are walking the walk.”

Working across all aspects of internal operations, NATA continues to target areas to reduce energy use and enact sustainable practices. The Association is finalizing analysis of its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions — accounting for factors such as purchased utilities, business travel, and employee commuting — which will allow NATA to determine its carbon footprint and purchase equivalent carbon offsets verified and certified by internationally accepted standards.  

NATA’s move to a neutral carbon footprint is one of a number of ways the Association is approaching sustainability in its operations, from efforts to become a paperless office to adoption of a hybrid work model. Implementing a digital membership process, launching the online Aviation Business Journal, offering paperless safety and training resources to our membership, embracing virtual events, and enacting sustainable practices at in-person events contribute to NATA’s achievement of its sustainability goals.

As our aviation business members take measures to further their sustainability agendas, NATA is ready to assist. Programs such as the Safety 1st Fuel QC Management System (FQMS) offer fully digital alternatives to pen and paper systems, while NATA’s YouTube channel highlights sustainability information and industry advancements. In addition, NATA encourages FBOs and charter operators to contact their fuel suppliers for information on certified carbon reduction and carbon offset programs. Together, we can help ensure a sustainable future for the aviation industry. 

For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.