London Gatwick Airport has appointed a carbon emissions consultant to analyze the environmental impact of a second runway at the airport and how it can be built within the lowest carbon footprint possible.
The UK airport is already committed to cutting its carbon emissions in half by 2020 when compared with 1990, and has achieved a 30% decrease to date. The airport now hopes that the addition of Simon Sturgis, managing director of Sturgis Carbon Profiling (SCP), will enable Gatwick to become the UK’s leading low carbon airport by 2025.
Gatwick will also start a phased implementation of economic incentives to encourage the use of electric cars and vans, as part of a longer-term initiative to transition to an all-electric fleet on its apron.
Stewart Wingate, CEO, Gatwick Airport, said, “Gatwick has ambitious expansion plans to meet rapidly growing demand, and these are matched by equally ambitious plans to develop the airport in the most environmentally responsible way possible.
“Carbon used in construction is often a hidden cost to the environment, but we know it is a significant contributor to an airport’s environmental footprint. I’m delighted that Simon has come on board and will help us reduce our carbon impact across the full range of activities so we can become the most sustainable airport around.”
Sturgis said, “I am very excited at the scale and commitment of Gatwick’s carbon reduction ambitions. Their plans are significant, imaginative and ground breaking, and the leadership they are showing has the potential to be game changing for carbon reduction across the UK.”