Press Release
Gatwick awarded European carbon reduction standard
2 March 2010
Gatwick awarded European carbon reduction standard
2 March 2010
- Gatwick becomes Airport Carbon Accredited
- Busiest point-to-point airport in Europe shows its commitment to moving towards a low-carbon economy
Gatwick, the second largest airport in the UK and the busiest point-to-point airport in Europe, has today been certified by Airport Carbon Accreditation, the standard for carbon management and reduction at European airports.
Airport Carbon Accreditation is the only independent and institutionally-endorsed certification programme designed specifically for the airport business. Launched by Airports Council International Europe in June 2009, the programme has four levels of accreditation: mapping, reduction, optimisation and neutrality. Gatwick has achieved accreditation at the ‘reduction’ level, meaning that it has mapped all of the CO2 emissions sources under its direct control and succeeded in reducing them on a rolling three-year average.
Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport said: “Our target is to reduce our carbon emissions by 50% over the next 10 years. Achieving Airport Carbon Accreditation signals an important milestone for us. We are already well on our way to achieving the next level of accreditation as we look to reduce our carbon emissions year-on-year.”
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of Airports Council International Europe commented “Gatwick is already a by-word for aviation efficiency, given its status as the busiest single runway airport in the world, so it’s no surprise to see the airport’s CO2 actions become accredited for ‘Reduction’ today. I congratulate Stewart Wingate and all his team on this achievement and I hope that aviation’s vehement critics in the UK will take note that Gatwick and many of its European counterparts are working hard to reduce their CO2 emissions.”
Last year, Gatwick launched its ‘Decade of Change’ sustainability strategy for developing the airport in a sustainable way over the next 10 years. As part of this strategy, Gatwick became the largest UK airport to achieve the UK’s Carbon Trust Standard and certification to ISO14001, the international environmental standard.
Gatwick is working on a number of key projects to reduce carbon, for example, it will be installing electric vehicle charge points not only for vehicles on the airfield but also in public car parks, benefiting passenger’s and also supporting the Government's ambition to develop a national network. A designated carbon management zone is also being identified for vehicles operating on the airfield which can incentivise business partners to use cleaner vehicles. Low carbon technology is already in use within the buildings such as, energy efficient lighting and sensor controlled passenger travelators and escalators.
View our Sustainability Performance Report
For further information, please contact:
Gatwick press office
Tel: +44 (0)1293 505000
Email: gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com
