With more companies around the world becoming more environmentally friendly, American Airlines recently announced it committed to set a science-based target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This move will sharpen the company’s strategy for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and aligns its path with the global imperative of limiting temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

American is the first airline in North America to begin the validation process with the Science Based Targets initiative and a collaboration between CDP, United Nations Global Compact, World Wide Fund for Nature and World Resources Institute.

“We are building American Airlines to thrive forever, which is why we set an ambitious goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Doug Parker, chairman and CEO, American Airlines. “Now, we’re committing to set a science-based target for 2035 because the seriousness of the climate challenge demands it. We’ve already laid a strong foundation by prioritizing near-term solutions to reduce our emissions, like renewing our fleet with more fuel-efficient aircraft.

By American committing to set a science-based target, it becomes a signatory to the Business Ambition for 1.5 ℃ campaign and joins the Race to Zero, a global campaign supported by the United Nations in hopes to rally support for a zero-carbon economy from businesses, cities, investors and others.