Bristol Airport sets out plan on becoming a net zero airport and accelerating efforts to achieve carbon neutrality

Bristol, UK, 2019-Jul-26 — /Travel PR News/ — Bristol Airport has published a carbon roadmap setting out how it will achieve its ambition to be a net zero airport and accelerating efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.

• Carbon neutral target fast-tracked to 2025
• Carbon levy to offset all road journeys
• Flights to fall under international agreement to keep emissions at 2020 levels

The roadmap has been published in direct response to concerns that the proposed development of the Airport could be inconsistent with climate emergencies declared by local authorities in the West of England. It sets ambitious targets which would put Bristol at the forefront of carbon reduction in the UK airport sector.

Two years ago Bristol Airport set a target to be carbon neutral by 2030 for all emissions under its direct control (primarily from electricity, gas and ground vehicles). The roadmap brings this target forward to 2025 and will be achieved through a range of measures including increased use of electric vehicles and a shift to renewable energy sources. The Airport’s ultimate objective is to become net zero by 2050 in line with the commitment made by the European airport industry last month, to which Bristol was amongst the first signatories.

As well as addressing direct emissions, the new roadmap sets out how the impact of passenger travel to the Airport and emissions from flights will be tackled. Emissions from road journeys will be offset by a new carbon levy on vehicles using the Express Drop Off – the least sustainable way to get to the Airport. When it is introduced later this year, the proceeds of the levy will be used to offset emissions from all surface access journeys. Emissions from flights will be tackled through the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which will commence in 2021 with the aim of stabilising emissions from international aviation at 2020 levels.

Dave Lees, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, said:

“Our carbon roadmap sets out how we are responding to the challenge of climate change. It combines ambitious targets with clear actions and a timeline against which we will chart our progress. It not only covers direct emissions from our site but also tackles the impact of passenger journeys to the airport and flights themselves. Decarbonising aviation will not be easy, but this plan shows we are serious about reducing our emissions so we can all continue to enjoy the benefits of air travel in a low carbon future.”

Media contact:

pressoffice@bristolairport.com

Source: Bristol Airport

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