Bristol Airport to become carbon neutral by end of this year
Chief Executive Dave Lees also announced plans to become the UK's first net zero airport by 2030
Bristol Airport has confirmed it will become carbon neutral by the end of this year instead of by 2025.
The airport also plans on becoming the UK's first net zero airport by 2030, 20 years before the government's target.
The news was revealed during an event this morning, the airport has got some stick online though because all the aims only cover the buildings and vehicles on site like buses and not the planes flying from the airport.
Chief Executive Dave Lees said: "Personally I think with what we're setting out today, somebody taking away from our level of ambition is disingenuous. Why should a company which is putting multi million pounds in to try and drive towards a lower carbon future be belittled? We're all driving towards a lower carbon future but the technology doesn't exist at this moment in time. We've got great opportunities in our region, the likes of GKN, Airbus, Rolls Royce. Let's be encouraging those businesses rather than belittling them".
Councillor Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council said: "I am delighted to be working closely with Bristol Airport and with so many global leaders in the aviation industry to support innovation and decarbonisation in the future of flight. South Gloucestershire has a proud and internationally significant history in aerospace and we continue to host the R&D which is critical to retain our status on the World stage at an important time for the industry and for the climate".
Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees also commented: “I welcome Bristol Airport’s ambition to drive carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability into the heart of its future, and to show leadership on how the sector can green its impact and deliver on testing carbon goals. In an increasingly interconnected world we must harness technology and innovation to reach our goal of carbon neutrality. Bristol’s aerospace sector is well placed to continue to lead on solutions to this challenge.”