The Lufthansa Group has reshaped its portfolio of climate protection projects and is placing a stronger emphasis on technology-based solutions. As part of its offers for more sustainable flying, passengers can contribute to CO\u2082 savings through the climate protection project portfolio. The new portfolio comprises 14 projects certified to the highest standards. The share of projects that permanently remove CO\u2082 from the atmosphere has been doubled and now accounts for around 20 percent. The projects are being implemented in Lufthansa Group\u2019s home markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy, as well as in other countries. In 2025, Lufthansa Group passengers contributed to climate protection projects covering more than 710,000 metric tonnes of CO\u2082 through more sustainable travel options – an increase of around 20 percent compared with the previous year.<\/p>\n
Nina Sproedt, Head of Sustainability at Lufthansa Group, says: \u201cClimate protection projects, which complement our own emission reduction measures, are an important building block on the path to more sustainable aviation and the achievement of our climate goals. With our carefully curated portfolio, we are increasingly focusing on technology-based projects that enable long-term CO\u2082 sequestration. In this way, we are contributing to the further development and scaling of these technologies. We offer our passengers the opportunity to support high-quality climate protection projects and the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, thereby actively participating in the transformation of aviation.\u201d<\/p>\n
For its new climate protection project portfolio, the Lufthansa Group is working with myclimate, First Climate, Ceezer, Senken, Climeworks and 1PointFive. The projects selected for the portfolio are certified according to the highest available standards – such as the Gold Standard, which is recommended by the German Environment Agency, among others. In this way, the Lufthansa Group ensures that supporting these projects makes a positive contribution to climate protection. Furthermore, Gold Standard projects also contribute to the United Nations\u2019 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and thereby support sustainable development in the respective project regions.<\/p>\n
Technology focus in the new climate protection project portfolio
The Lufthansa Group\u2019s climate protection project portfolio is divided into two categories: \u201cavoidance\u201d and \u201cremoval\u201d projects. \u201cAvoidance\u201d projects prevent CO\u2082 emissions outside the airline industry – for example, through the use of energy-efficient cookstoves or modular biogas plants. \u201cRemoval\u201d projects, on the other hand, actively remove CO\u2082 from the atmosphere and store it over the long term. This can be done nature-based, for example through the reforestation of forests and natural landscapes. In addition, there are \u201cremoval\u201d projects that use technology-based approaches – for example, those in which CO\u2082 is extracted from the ambient air via photosynthesis and bound as carbon in the form of biochar. Innovative projects that filter CO\u2082 from the air and store it underground are also part of the growing share of removal projects (Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage, DACCS).<\/p>\n
Commitment to innovative DACCS technologies
In the aviation industry, decarbonization is particularly challenging compared to other sectors. Sector-specific measures to reduce CO\u2082 emissions always take priority.\u00a0In addition, the Lufthansa Group is exploring further emission-reduction solutions with an open approach to technology. Particularly advanced technologies such as DACCS will make it possible in the future to filter CO\u2082 from the ambient air and subsequently store it underground for the long term. These projects are now, for the first time, included in the Lufthansa Group\u2019s climate protection project portfolio. The Lufthansa Group is already working with partners such as Deep Sky, Airbus and Climeworks to advance the development, promotion, and utilization of these innovative technological solutions.<\/p>\n