LEEDS Bradford Airport has announced plans to become carbon neutral by 2030,

The airport has unveiled the specific steps it will take in the coming years to achieve its net zero goal on a new, publicly available website.

LBA says it will be one of the first net zero airports in the UK.

Its roadmap is focussed on emissions that the airport is directly responsible for and is fully in control of. This includes decarbonising intensive terminal operations across the 260,000 sq ft airport, such as renewable heating contracts, energy efficient air-conditioning, as well as converting on-site vehicles to low and zero emission solutions.

LBA says it has also committed to measures that support reducing emissions produced by on-site business partners, such as airlines.

Wider plans include Jet2’s commitments to reduce CO2 per passenger by 10 per cent by 2030, use UK produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2026 and operate 50 per cent zero emission ground support equipment by 2023. Ryanair has committed to 66g of CO2 per passenger by 2030 and KLM has outlined a CO2 reduction path developed by Science Based Targets initiative specifically for the airline industry in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

LBA says it has been committed to reducing its emissions, with accreditation under the Airport Carbon Accreditation Scheme, a voluntary global carbon management standard specifically for airports.

CEO Vincent Hodder said: “This net zero commitment is one of the most ambitious made by a UK airport and we hope it will reassure passengers, partners and members of the public that we are planning for the long-term future of LBA. Of course, emissions from aircraft are a concern across the aviation industry and we do not deny that or ignore it, but we are clear in our role to provide appropriate infrastructure and incentives to support the wider decarbonisation efforts of our partners and supply chain, as well as advocating for technological advances. We have intentionally made our plans publicly available, and we are transparent in both the airport operational and the aviation emissions challenge we face.

“Leeds can be proud that we are looking to do everything we can to make our own processes sustainable and that we are actively supporting partners to achieve their own decarbonisation strategies, and it is testament to the strong precedent set by our city councils that we have set our ambitions high.”

Visit https://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/net-zero for full details.