Qatar Airways Cargo is the first cargo carrier to join IATA's carbon offsetting CO2NNECT platform.

The platform will allow Qatar Cargo to offer customers an integrated carbon calculation and offset solution, with assurance that the credits bought to offset these emissions are from projects delivering independently verified carbon reductions, as well as wider environmental and social benefits.

Initially, a pilot project was launched on four routes, with plans to extend to the rest of its cargo network of over 60 freighter destinations and more than 140 passenger destinations worldwide.

The pilot uses IATA standards for calculating CO2 emissions per freight kg.

Freight forwarder Kuehne+Nagel will be the the launch customers for the scheme.

IATA director general Willie Walsh said: "The industry target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 applies to both passengers and cargo. It also needs all stakeholders in the industry to work together and embrace innovative solutions."