The Brazilian carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas and its partner Moss are celebrating the first anniversary of its 100% carbon-neutral route between Recife International Airport (REC) and Fernando de Noronha Airport (FEN). In one year alone, the companies have neutralized the emission of 7,295 tons of CO2 in 953 round-trip flights between these two destinations.
On September 1, 2021, GOL and Moss announced their partnership, making available to passengers a way to contribute to the preservation of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago in Brazil via carbon credits. They launched Brazil's first 100% carbon-neutral route connecting Recife and Fernando de Noronha as part of the airline's sustainability efforts.
The partnership was launched because commercial aviation is essential to everyday life in Fernando de Noronha, but it is also responsible for 50% o the carbon emissions generated on the island. With GOL and Moss partnership, a quarter of these emissions is neutralized; both companies assumed the cost of total CO2 compensation for all flights on these routes, and they donated to passengers and crew on the routes a certificate of individual compensation for the carbon footprint generated. In addition, the airline allows anyone to buy an MCO2 token to neutralize the other legs of their trip.
Carbon offsetting on GOL's flights is accomplished through MCO2, the first green token registered on blockchain, created by Moss. According to GOL, the value generated by the token transaction is intended to neutralize CO2 emissions by supporting certified environmental projects operating in the Amazon rainforest.
Eduardo Calderon, director of GOL's Engineering and Operational Control Center, said the Recife-Fernando de Noronha is a special route. Fernando de Noronha is renowned because of its importance as a feeding ground for tuna, sharks, turtles, and marine mammals.
"For GOL, it is very gratifying to know that the company offers a sustainable travel experience to the island, not avoiding its responsibilities in mitigating the impact of its operations on climate change and emissions. A carbon-neutral year between Recife and Noronha is an important milestone in our #MeuVooCompensa campaign," Calderon added.
"Our long-standing partnership with GOL allows us to continue with our mission to democratize access to carbon credits with the main focus of fighting deforestation, generating a positive impact socially and environmentally, and promoting a self-sustainable economy," added Luis Felipe Adaime, founder and CEO of Moss.
Adding on its success on the first 100% carbon-neutral route, GOL added a new route in December 2021. This route was between São Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH) and Bonito Airport (BYO) in the Mato Grosso do Sul state. This destination is also a sustainable paradise, so GOL had the idea to also launch a 100% carbon-neutral route.
Just like the route from Recife to Noronha, in the case of Congonhas-Bonito, GOL and Moss assume the total carbon offset of the outbound and return journeys, giving customers the certificate that they have erased the carbon footprint of their travels.
What do you think about this sustainable initiative by GOL Linhas Aéreas? Would you like to travel on a 100% carbon-neutral route? Let us know in the comments below.