The recognition comes after the airport has made considerable improvements to reducing carbon emissions in recent years as part of the airport’s commitment to make all ground operations carbon neutral by 2015.
Manchester Airport first achieved the Carbon Trust Standard in 2008. The airport was also the first UK airport to be accredited by Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme in 2009.
“Being certified with the Carbon Trust Standard is proof that an organisation has taken genuine action to reduce its impact on climate change,” said Harry Morrison, Director of Certification for the Carbon Trust.
“Recertifying is a signal that an organisation has cut carbon over the past two years, demonstrating an on-going commitment to tackling climate change. We congratulate Manchester Airport on their achievement.”
Just some of the initiatives undertaken by Manchester Airport to reduce carbon emissions have included buying 100 per cent of the airport’s electricity from renewable sources and reducing electricity and CO2 usage by installing more than 1,000 state-of-the-art LED lights, as part of a scheduled runway refurbishment. The airport has also managed to cut 60 per cent of its energy costs by replacing 1,100 lights in the T2 arrival pier.
Manchester Airport, which last week announced the introduction of new direct flights from Manchester to Dhaka, Bangladesh, is set to expand on the energy saving scheme throughout T2 and to T1 and T3 in the coming year. The move could see more than 10,000 lights replaced for energy efficient equivalents.
“We’re delighted to have been re-certified with the Carbon Trust Standard. It is a great way of recognising that through our projects and targets, we are leading the way for airports when it comes to carbon management best practices,” said Neil Robinson, Corporate Social Responsibility Director for the airport group.
The aviation industry as a whole is committed to cutting aviation emissions in half by 2050 and to having carbon-neutral growth from 2020.
(Image: isriya)
