Gatwick airport publishes report on its carbon emissions

July 2009

Gatwick Airport Ltd have (quietly) published a report on Gatwick and climate
change.   This may be  the first time a major UK airport has assessed its impact
on climate change.

It has been produced because it was required under the 2008 legal agreement between  the
local authorities and Gatwick airport.
 
As you might expect, however, the report contains a huge amount of whitewash.    
They do admit to being responsible for emissions during take-off and landing (another
first?) but disclaim any responsibility for emissions during the cruise phase
of flights.
 
There is a great deal about how they intend to improve the efficiency of the
airport heating system and fit energy saving bulbs, but no mention of the proposed
increase of 20,000 flights a year as a result of a recent planning application
to extend the North Terminal.
 
It is at http://www.gatwickairport.com/assets/Internet/Gatwick/Gatwick%20downloads/Static%20files/Climatechange_Report_2008.pdf     (32 pages)
 
 
Included in Gatwick Airport’s 2008 Carbon Footprint:

Scope 1.
Emissions on-site, or an associated process, from the combustion

of fossil fuels, i.e. gas, oil, LPG, refrigerants and companyowned

vehicles
 
Scope 2.

Emissions associated with the use of electricity imported from

the grid or from a third party supplier of energy in the form of

heat or electricity
 
Scope 3.

Emissions as a direct consequence of the use of goods or

services provided by the company. Sources include aircraft

movements, passenger & staff travel to the airport, airside

activities, waste disposal, water, business travel.  
(on pages 17 and 18 of the report)
By contrast, see the study by GACC:
 

“Gatwick –   destroying climate change targets”

A study of the emissions caused by aircraft using Gatwick Airport –   (June 2007)
by GACC
Gatwick handles 17% of UK passengers.    The distance flown by planes from Gatwick
is probably about equal to the national average – less than from Heathrow but
more than from other airports. That would indicate that aircraft from Gatwick
on their outward journeys emit about 6.5 Mt of CO2.
 
http://www.gacc.org.uk/documents/Gatwick_wrecking_targets_full.pdf
The UK has the highest volume of CO2 emissions in Europe, followed by France
and Germany, as shown below. This is due to the presence of international hub
airports in these countries and the large number of international flights from
these airports.
 
UK     26%

Germany     18%

France     14%


Spain     11%

Italy     8%

Netherlands   7%

Greece     3%

Belgium     2%

Irish Republic     2%

Denmark     2%

Portugal     2%

Sweden     2%

Austria     1%

Finland     1%

Luxembourg     1%
Europe       100%