CHANGI Airport Group (CAG) has launched its own carbon-offset programme through which passengers can offset the carbon emissions from their air travel – regardless of the airline that they fly with.

Called Changi Carbon Offsets, the programme includes a carbon calculator on Changi Airport’s website and the Changi App, so passengers can calculate the carbon emissions for their forthcoming flight based on where the flight starts, ends as well as the class of travel.

They will afterwards be offered the option to offset the emissions from their journey, and to use their credit card for payment.

Checks by The Business Times on the CAG website found that an economy-class return flight between Changi Airport and Milan’s Malpensa Airport would result in emissions amounting to 2,165 kg of carbon dioxide. This is estimated to take S$30.22 to offset.

A return journey on economy class between Changi Airport and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport would result in 279 kg of carbon dioxide emissions, for which the quoted offset would cost S$4.11.

CAG said the funds raised from the programme will go into supporting carbon-offset projects in Indonesia, China and India.

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One such project is the Rimba Raya forest-conservation project in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Its aim is to prevent the carbon-rich peatlands there from being burned and converted to oil palm plantations. It is the smoke from this burning that typically contributes to a choking haze in the region.

The funds will also be used to protect the area’s biodiversity, including endangered orangutans, and to provide the local communities there with solar lamps, water filters and medical clinics.

In Guizhou, China, funds raised through the Changi Carbon Offsets programme will go into the Anhuang afforestation project.

There,120 million native trees will be planted to increase biodiversity, reduce soil erosion and improve water conservation.

The project is also expected to create over 28,000 jobs in management and afforestation for the people there.

The funds will also be channelled into developing wind-power generation facilities in Koppal in India, which has traditionally been powered by fossil fuels – coal, diesel, furnace oil and gas power.

A transition into wind power would improve air quality and public health.

The project is also expected to create job opportunities there.

Audrey Lee, group senior vice-president of regulatory affairs and sustainability, said CAG will purchase carbon offsets for all business travel undertaken by its staff, in a show of the group’s commitment to lower-emissions air travel.

The launch of Changi Carbon Offsets follows that of Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) carbon offset programme, which was announced in June 2021.

The national carrier announced a year later that it would also sell sustainable aviation fuel credits to travellers and freight forwarders under its partnership with Temasek and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.

A 20-month pilot for this project was completed in November 2023.