Sustainability rating company 4Air is to offset emissions associated with climate change from all private jet travel into St Moritz, Switzerland during the 37th annual Snow Polo World Cup this year. 4Air will purchase verified carbon offset credits at no cost to participating aircraft to offset not only emissions of carbon dioxide but also other, non-carbon emissions such as soot, water vapour and contrails.

The carbon offset credits purchased by 4Air support verified emissions reduction projects such as renewable energy and nature-based projects in developing nations, that also generate societal benefits. The number of credits required to offset each aircraft's emissions is calculated through a scientific formula that accounts for such factors as the type of aircraft and the hours flown to and from St Moritz.

“The Snow Polo World Cup brings together influencers from around the world in business, government, sports, entertainment and other fields, and it is an outstanding opportunity to educate them about how we can achieve carbon and emissions neutrality,” says 4Air president Kennedy Ricci. “By raising the visibility of sustainability in private aviation, we hope to promote the use not only of carbon offset credits but also of sustainable aviation fuel and other new strategies to fight aviation's environmental footprint.”

Emissions will be offset at 4Air's emissions-neutral Silver Level, the second of the four levels in its increasingly progressive ratings programmes. Since its launch in January 2021, 4Air has helped private jet owners, operators and passengers fly 250,000 carbon-neutral flight hours and offset or reduce more than one million metric tons of CO2.

“The natural setting of the frozen Lake St Moritz is absolutely intrinsic to our event, so we are delighted to be working with 4Air to recognise the impact of private flights to the Snow Polo World Cup St Moritz in a meaningful way,” says Snow Polo World Cup founder and organiser Reto Gaudenzi. “With Engadin airport so close to our location, it fulfils a very important travel need for many of our polo teams, visitors and VIP guests. We now can amplify their own arrangements to mitigate their travel by offsetting their comprehensive emissions.”

Snow polo is played on the frozen Lake St Moritz. This winter version of polo is adapted to snowy conditions through a smaller field, three-player teams, cleated horseshoes for better traction and a larger, lighter, red-coloured ball.

4Air has also promoted awareness and education of sustainability by offsetting the impact of major aviation industry events such as CJI Miami and NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas, as well as extending awareness by offsetting and supplying SAF to private flights arriving and departing from major private fly-in events such as Monterey Car Week.