The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has committed to being certified carbon neutral, signalling its ongoing commitment to sustainability within its own operations and throughout the wider aviation community.

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 the adoption of 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 of expanding access to aviation while embracing technological advancements and sound policies that promote a cleaner future.

NATA has committed to being carbon neutral for 2020 and moving forward. The association 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,” says 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 finalising 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 that are verified and certified by internationally accepted standards.

The organisation's move to a neutral carbon footprint is one of a number of ways it 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 its membership, embracing virtual events and enacting sustainable practices at in-person events contribute to NATA's achievement of its sustainability goals.

As its aviation business members take measures to further their sustainability agendas, NATA is ready to assist. Programmes 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 programmes.