Their flights might be cheap, but there’s nothing cheap about kulula’s Project Green programme. Introduced to combat carbon and greenhouse gas emissions produced by their aircraft, kulula has raised an amazing R1 000 000 of which R618 300 was used to plant 6 870 trees across South Africa in 2011. This initiative will support greening and mitigate climate change through Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA). Through this generous donation, the dusty settlements that recieved trees are no longer dusty.  Tembisa in Gauteng, received 3000 trees. Mitchells Plain, Langa and George in the Western Cape received 250, 1000 and 620 trees, respectively. In Durban, Mt Moriah received a thousand trees and Parkgate 500 trees respectively.

The final 500 fruit and indigenous kulula trees will be distributed on 3 December at the Faith Apostolic Church in Section B of Parkgate in Durban, during the COP17 climate change conference being hosted in Durban.

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17), to discuss and debate the issue of climate change, comes at a crucial time. Many extreme weather events, linked to climate change, have severely affected many parts of the world in 2011. And here in Africa, the story is no different. The need to reduce carbon emissions has reached an apex, and airlines such as kulula.com are taking the initiaitve to offset their emissions.

kulula’s passangers flying to Durban can also do their bit to reduce their carbon footprint.  Passangers simply need to visit the FTFA stand at King Shaka International Airport for the duration of COP17 to have the carbon emissions from their journey calculated and then offset through buying trees, which act as carbon sinks.

“As kulula, because we are a green airline we love everything green. Hence why greening South Africa fits well with our marketing strategy which is to be a fun airline while uplifting disadvantaged communities,” said Nadine Damen, Marketing Manager of kulula.com.

FTFA founder, Jeunesse Park, who recently presented Al Gore’s 24 Hours of Reality, says, ‘From an environmental point of view we are often preaching to the converted. Climate change and environmental issues need to enter the public domain so more people can become aware of the role they play in ensuring a sustainable future.’

kulula, with their infamously lumo green aircrafts, have been planting trees with residents in these dusty settlements across South Africa for the past few years already. Through the planting of these 500 trees in Parkgate FTFA will train another 10 unemployed residents who will go door to door. They will tell their neighbours about kulula’s great green gift, invite them to collect their trees on 3 December, and inform them of COP17. While we cannot afford to ignore the implications of climate change, kulula’s Project Green programme ensures that everyday South Africans are getting more out of each journey than just a cheap flight.