But, she adds, doing more isn’t just lip service. In the spirit of corporate responsibility, it’s also the ethical thing to do. CERTAINLY THE ORGANIZATION has been a market leader for 20 years, its services also used by the likes of organizations such as Patagonia, Method, and Warby Parker. And it’s audited in the carbon offset projects it supports by the gold standard likes of Climate Action Reserve and Verified Carbon Standard. Among 300- plus projects around the world, it’s worked on forest protection in Alaska, for example, and on supporting the Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm in Texas—projects typically in areas close to high populations of NetJets Owners—as well as others in South America, Africa, and Asia, from rural biogas to hydro. “As a business that spans continents, our global procurement [from our end] is vetted very seriously, too,” adds Oreck. “We pay very close attention.” That means keeping up with the shifting sands of our understanding of sustainability. ClimateCare divides its efforts, for example, between household needs—clean water, low-emission cooking, and the like— waste management, grid-scale renewables, and land use, including rainforest protection and reforestation. But this year new studies have suggested that, among other orthodoxies, the planting of trees may not be as effective in carbon capture as was originally believed; likewise, renewable energy sources have been found wanting for their current utility in tackling climate change relative to (within the ”green” community, at least) controversial energy sources such as nuclear power. “We think that Blue Skies has to be a true partnership between NetJets and ClimateCare. As the sustainability landscape changes rapidly, it’s important we research all options,” explains Oreck. “We take a diverse approach to environmental projects. Some Owners can be very passionate about different aspects of environmentalism.” But NetJets’ efforts toward sustainability are not limited to the Blue Skies program—after all, Oreck notes, we have to rely on Blue Skies as one component of a broader sustainability program—not the be-all, end-all.” It’s why, for example, NetJets also maintains one of the newest fleets in private aviation—some new aircraft can be more efficient and therefore less carbonintensive—even if most Owners inevitably select their aircraft according to transportation parameters rather than any green credentials it may have. Recent years have seen aircraft manufacturers think more proactively about their environmental standards too. MORE PROFOUNDLY, NetJets has recently partnered with Neste and Signature Flight Support’s Signature Renew sustainability initiative to accelerate the adoption of SAF, or sustainable aviation fuel, initially making it available at two key gateways—San Francisco (where the fuel supply is located) and Columbus, Ohio (home of NetJets global headquarters)—with plans to roll this out to various other international hubs as it becomes feasible. SAF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, relative to conventional aviation fuel. And Oreck isn’t the only one thinking big. Brad Ferrell, executive vice president of administrative services recently said, “As the largest and most experienced company in the private aviation space worldwide, NetJets’ promise of exceptional safety and service to Owners and employees must extend to the larger global community we impact as well. There remains more to be done in the sustainable aviation space, and we look forward to being on the cutting-edge of those innovations and evolving this program in our ongoing efforts to address sustainability in the air, on the ground, and with our team members.” “We’re expecting to see an exponential change in concern for sustainability issues among our Owners over the next few years,” Oreck says determinedly. “And we’ll be ready for them.” <strong>12</strong> NetJets
GREEN DREAM Among ClimateCare’s many initiatives is work on forest protection in Alaska. © CLIMATECARE “As the sustainability landscape changes rapidly, it’s important we research all options.” NetJets 13
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