Qatar Airways Cargo has looked to take its commitment to sustainability to the next level, extending beyond traditional green goals to make a positive impact on the industry and society.
As part of this, the carrier has established a long-standing relationship with United for Wildlife, as well as becoming an inaugural signatory to the United for Wildlife Transport Industry Declaration and participant in the USAID Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership.
“Our initiatives have fostered a spirit of collaboration within the air cargo sector. We actively engage with industry stakeholders, sharing best practices and insights to collectively address environmental challenges and drive positive change,” said Liesbeth Oudkerk, Senior Vice President Cargo Sales and Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo. “We believe that our sustainability efforts influence market trends. By setting a precedent, we aim to encourage other players in the industry to adopt similar measures, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and responsible ecosystem.”
Qatar Airways Cargo’s sustainability efforts have also had a notable impact on employee engagement, sparking pride through its prioritisation of responsible and ethical practices. This commitment has not only boosted morale but has also become a factor in attracting and retaining top talent within the industry.
“In essence, our sustainability program demonstrates that responsible business practices can lead to a positive ripple effect, influencing market trends, stakeholder perceptions, employee engagement, and the overall standards of sustainability within the air cargo industry,” Liesbeth Oudkerk continued.
Disrupting illicit trade
For Chapter 2 of its WeQare programme, “Rewild the Planet”, Qatar Airways Cargo has committed to preserve wildlife and endangered animals and to transport them back to their natural habitat free of charge.
One of the notable milestones of this initiative was the successful transportation of seven lions from Ukraine in 2021. This operation demonstrated Qatar Airways Cargo’s dedication to supporting the efforts of NGOs and conservation organisations in their vital work to rewild the planet.
“We are very proud to be the Official Airline Partner of United for Wildlife (UfW), an initiative working to tackle the illegal wildlife trade and protect endangered species, founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales in 2014. This partnership plays a key role in amplifying the reach of our mission to raison awareness and advocate for a zero-tolerance policy towards the illegal trade of endangered wildlife,” Liesbeth Oudkerk said.
“We were the first airline to be certified under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Assessment, developed by IATA with support from The Royal Foundation and the ROUTES Partnership, in May 2019. This certification demonstrates Qatar Airways Cargo’s commitments to the United for Wildlife Transport Industry Declaration,” Liesbeth Oudkerk added.
Qatar Airways Cargo’s activities reflect their unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation. Qatar Airways Cargo and United for Wildlife will pursue campaigns around their shared mission to fight the illegal wildlife trade and advance the work of the United for Wildlife Regional Chapters.
“The illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade threatens our global biodiversity, and poses a risk to health and safety, particularly in marginalised communities. We are taking measures to disrupt this illicit trade in order to conserve biodiversity and safeguard our delicate ecosystems,” Liesbeth Oudkerk stated.
