Qatar Airways Group

The company has not implemented board-level oversight of climate change. It is unclear who holds responsibility for climate objectives. In the absence of clear leadership, Qatar Airways has not created a robust transition plan. The company did not conduct a climate scenario analysis to inform its transition plan and ensure the plan’s ambition is sufficient for a 1.5°C pathway. Qatar Airways can improve by implementing board-level oversight of climate change and appointing members to its board with significant expertise in the low-carbon transition.

Qatar Airways has set a net-zero target for 2050. However, the company currently does not disclose enough information to assess this target accurately. To demonstrate commitment to the low-carbon transition, the company should additionally set regularly spaced intermediate targets aligned with its 1.5°C pathway and clearly report its base year emissions.

The company states that it is involved in the R&D of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and low-carbon aviation fuel (LCAF). However, the company does not disclose its R&D expenditure. The company should ensure that a significant proportion of its R&D investment is in low-carbon vehicles and fuel development. R&D expenditure on low-carbon vehicles and energies will be essential for the company to meet its targets.

Qatar Airways does not disclose sufficient emissions intensity or activity data to meaningfully assess its performance to date. The company should report its emissions intensity, its passenger and freight emissions separately and its activity data per passenger kilometre or freight tonne kilometre. This data is necessary for the company and third parties to analyse whether the company is aligned with its 1.5°C pathway and help it develop a robust transition plan.

Qatar Airways has set a 2050 net-zero target. However, the company does not disclose emissions intensity or activity data. It is also unclear if the company will use offsets to achieve this target. The company does not provide a vision for what it will look like in the future.

The company plans to modernise its fleet, reduce emissions from infrastructure and operations through fuel optimisation projects, advance the use of SAF and LCAF and comply with market-based measures. The company does not provide significant detail on these elements.

The company does not disclose what proportion of its R&D expenditure was dedicated to low-carbon technologies. It is working with industry stakeholders to advance the use of alternative fuels.

Qatar Airways does not disclose sufficient activity data to assess its past emissions intensity. The company’s scope 1 emissions were increasing prior to COVID-19, suggesting it is unlikely the company will be aligned with its future 1.5°C pathway.

Qatar Airlines has committed to becoming net zero by 2050 but there is little evidence the company has put in place measures to achieve this target. The company lacks a robust transition plan, committed investment in low-carbon solutions and senior leadership required to achieve its goals.

No evidence was found of the company’s commitment to social dialogue or of the categories of stakeholders the company engages with on a just transition. Furthermore, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s ongoing social dialogue and meaningful engagement with affected stakeholders.

No evidence was found of the company undertaking low-carbon transition planning to mitigate the social impacts of the transition on workers, affected stakeholders and its business relationships. Additionally, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s engagement in social dialogue or engagement with stakeholders in its just transition planning.

No public commitment by the company was found stating its intention to create and support access to green and decent jobs as part of the low-carbon transition. Moreover, no evidence was found of the company’s action to promote these jobs in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Additionally, no relevant disclosure was found of the company’s assessment of employment dislocation risks.

The company discloses the actions it takes to provide training opportunities for workers and affected stakeholders. For instance, it supports Qatari students in Qatar and overseas and offers training programmes for its staff. However, no relevant disclosure was found of the company embedding equality of opportunity for women and vulnerable groups in these actions. Furthermore, no evidence was found of the company having a process for identifying skills gaps for workers and affected stakeholders or a public commitment to help workers displaced by the transition to reskill or upskill.

No relevant disclosure was found to show if the company identifies impacts of the low-carbon transition on social protection for workers and affected stakeholders, nor how it contributes to social protection. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company expects its business relationships to contribute to the social protection of their workers and affected stakeholders.

No relevant disclosure was found to show how the company identifies any misalignment of its lobbying activities with policies and regulations that support the just transition, nor of the measures it takes to address misalignment. Furthermore, no evidence was found that the company lobbies for policies and regulations for green and decent job creation; retention, education and reskilling; and social protection for workers.

No policies or commitments of the company related to respect for human rights were found in the public domain. This includes the necessary policies and systems by which the company can ensure respect for basic human rights in its operations and supply chain.

The company discloses some information on collective bargaining and sets out an expectation on its suppliers to respect the health and safety of their staff. However, the company can strengthen its disclosure on these and other key decent work issues including the provision of secure, safe and healthy workplaces, where workers are fairly remunerated and have a meaningful say in decision-making.

The company has anti-bribery and anti-corruption clauses in its contracts with business relationships, and the company identifies where accountability for its tax strategy lies. However, the company can strengthen its disclosure on all key ethical business topics – personal data protection, tax, bribery and corruption, and lobbying and political engagement.