A detailed plan has been unveiled by Leeds Bradford airport (LBA) to become a net zero carbon airport by 2030.
The Yorkshire airport’s roadmap is focussed on emissions that it 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.
It aims to become one of the first net zero airports in the UK.
The airport also committed to measures that support reducing emissions produced by business partners, such as airlines.
These wider plans include Jet2’s commitments to reduce CO2 per passenger by 10% by 2030, use UK produced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2026 and operate 50% zero emission ground support equipment by 2023.
Similarly, Ryanair has committed to 60g CO2 per passenger by 2030 and KLM has outlined a CO2 reduction path.
Airport chief executive 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.”
He added: “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.”