Google and American Airlines announced a record-breaking agreement for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) certificates. The multi-year deal will unlock 35 million gallons of SAF, reducing nearly 300,000 tons of CO2 equivalent. SAF is made from waste oils, agricultural residues, and captured carbon, and can deliver up to 80% lower emissions than traditional jet fuel. This is the largest publicly announced SAF agreement between an airline and a single corporate customer. SAF certificates are tradable credits that represent the carbon reductions from using sustainable fuel. They let companies like Google directly support SAF production and claim the environmental benefits. The aviation industry accounts for about 3% of global CO2 emissions, and SAF is seen as a key tool for decarbonizing air travel. Other companies such as Microsoft, United Airlines, and JetBlue have also pursued similar SAF deals.
