Southwest

Southwest Airlines is committed to reducing its environmental impact within the air transport services industry. The airline has set ambitious climate targets, aiming to reduce its carbon emissions intensity by 50% by 2035, with an interim goal of a 25% reduction by 2030, both compared to 2019 levels.

For the reporting year 2024, Southwest reported total global emissions of approximately 25.6 billion kg CO2e. This breaks down into Scope 1 emissions of about 21.1 billion kg CO2e, Scope 2 emissions (market-based) of approximately 16.7 million kg CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions totalling around 4.6 billion kg CO2e. Key contributors to Scope 3 emissions in 2024 included fuel and energy-related activities (approximately 4.5 billion kg CO2e) and purchased goods and services (approximately 996 million kg CO2e).

In 2023, total global emissions were approximately 24.9 billion kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions accounting for about 20.7 billion kg CO2e and Scope 3 emissions totalling approximately 2.1 billion kg CO2e.

The company's 2022 reporting year showed total global emissions of around 22.3 billion kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions at approximately 18.5 billion kg CO2e and Scope 3 emissions at roughly 1.7 billion kg CO2e.

Emissions data for prior years, including 2021 (approximately 19.4 billion kg CO2e total), 2020 (approximately 14.8 billion kg CO2e total), 2019 (approximately 24.1 billion kg CO2e total), 2018 (approximately 24.4 billion kg CO2e total), 2017 (approximately 20.2 billion kg CO2e total), and 2016 (approximately 19.7 billion kg CO2e total), are also available. Between 2011 and 2015, total emissions ranged from approximately 13.9 billion kg CO2e to 18.8 billion kg CO2e. Historical data from 2012 and earlier primarily covers Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, with Scope 3 data not being consistently disclosed for those years.

Southwest Airlines' reported emissions are not cascaded from a parent organisation.