London Heathrow has been recognised for the fourth consecutive year for its efforts in managing and minimising CO2 emissions, as it seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 34 percent by 2020.
Heathrow Airport was granted the ‘Optimisation’ by Airport Carbon Accreditation, the only independent institutionally endorsed carbon certification standard for airports.
The certification particularly acknowledges Heathrow’s efforts in working with a wide range of stakeholders to minimise CO2 emissions. Stakeholders include those on site, such as airlines, ground handlers, catering companies and air traffic control, as well as off-site such as road and rail authorities.
Matt Gorman, Heathrow’s sustainability director, said: ‘We are committed to running Heathrow responsibly, but we can’t do it alone. That’s why we are delighted to have been recognised once again for our commitment to working with a multitude of stakeholders to achieve stretching carbon emission reductions.’
Dr. Andy Jefferson, programme director at Sustainable Aviation, said: ‘This certification for Heathrow is much deserved. It also recognises the enormous efforts the airport invests in working collaboratively across the aviation industry to reduce its impacts whilst maintaining the significant benefits it provides to passengers and the UK economy. It is exactly this type of approach which the Sustainable Aviation CO2 and Noise Road-Maps envisage will ensure UK aviation grows in a sustainable way.’
Airport Carbon Accreditation recognises the airport’s work in several areas. Besides efforts such as the deployment of CO2-efficient FEGP (Fixed Electrical Ground Power), Heathrow encourages the cleanest types of transport at the airport, operating the largest fleet of electric airside vehicles in Europe and one of the largest car sharing schemes in the world.
Set to open next year, Heathrow’s new energy efficient Terminal-2 is widely recognised for its energy reduction measures, aiming to achieve a 40.5 percent CO2 reduction over and above what is required by building regulations. In addition, a state of the art biomass energy centre will provide low carbon heat and electricity to the terminal.
Heathrow is also a founding member of Sustainable Aviation and lead member for the development of carbon reduction programmes related to aircraft, such as the Carbon Roadmap. Earlier this year, Heathrow received the highest rating – the ‘Platinum Big Tick’ – in Business in the Community’s annual benchmark of responsible business management, the Corporate Responsibility Index, alongside companies that included the Co-op, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s.
