Bristol Airport today said it will become carbon neutral later this year by hitting targets it originally expected to reach in 2025 – setting it up to gain the title of the UK’s first net zero airport by 2030.
Bosses said three key commitments to be a net zero airfield, with net zero buildings and operating a net zero fleet of vehicles would enable it to take a leadership position in the industry and hit its deadline 20 years ahead of the government’s intended date. 
Airport CEO Dave Lees, pictured below, told a virtual gathering of regional business leaders this morning that the commitment was another milestone in looking towards the future showcasing how businesses in the region collaborating together using the latest technology and innovative solutions would meet decarbonisation targets.
“The aviation industry is taking its responsibilities seriously in addressing climate change challenges, working together to create the solutions now and in the future,” he told the event, which also looked at how Bristol and the West of England’s aerospace sector was addressing the issue, including its world-leading research into use of electric-powered air taxis and hydrogen-fuelled planes.
But the airport’s claims were immediately shot down by Bristol Green Party councillors, who described them as “utter nonsense and a cynical form of greenwashing.”
In a statement, the councillors said: “The airport’s ‘net zero’ claims do not extend to flights or car parking – the two main areas of businesses, enabling aeroplanes to take off and land and operating a large and expensive car park – so promoting itself as a ‘net zero airport’ is misleading. 
They said Bristol Airport’s expansion plan, which was rejected by North Somerset Council – a decision on which the airport is now appealing – would allow for an annual capacity of up to 12m passengers, something the Green Party says would emit an additional 1m tonnes of CO2 equivalents a year.
Bristol Green councillor Carla Denyer, pictured below, said: “Of course any work to improve the airport’s climate targets are welcome, but to brand yourself as a ‘net zero airport’ without including flights, car parking or journeys to and from the airport is highly misleading.
“The environmental impact of aviation is well documented but is something they seem unwilling or unable to talk about.
“It’s not only the flights they seem to want to pretend aren’t happening, but also the car parking operation that remains central to their business model.
“An estimated 87% of passenger arrive at the airport by car and the airport profits massively from this – which is why they are so keen to concrete over green fields to grow this car parking operation.”
The Future of Flight business breakfast at the airport was attended in person by Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and discussed harnessing the region’s innovation and strategic leadership and how best to get business collaborating to support the sector’s transition to net zero. 
Mayor Rees said: “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.”
But his comments were also criticised by city councillor Emma Edwards, one of the 19 new Green Party representatives elected last month.
“It was deeply disappointing to see the Mayor at the announcement this morning, offering a support to this environmentally damaging operation,” she said.
“His comment that this represents the airport showing ‘leadership’ is baffling, when he has been vocal in his commitment to Bristol becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The airport and its current plans to expand should be under the highest scrutiny by the council.”
She said Bristol was the first UK city to declare a climate emergency a carbon neutral target for 2030, but to deliver on that promise meant being honest about the climate impact of its aviation industry and opposing the airport’s continued lobbying for expansion.”
Photo of Carla Denyer @JonCraig_Photos
