“Heathrow unveils its plan for carbon neutral growth”: except there is no credible plan … not for a 50% increase in flights
Heathrow has set out a “plan” to (magically) help it to increase the number of flights by up to 50% but do this in a “carbon neutral” way. Needless to say, there is no detail of how it can actually do this. There is plenty about how it will be investing in “sustainable” fuels. Plenty of blather, without any actual details, about how can achieve an entirely impossible goal. Heathrow says it is looking at action on 4 key areas including: cleaner aircraft technology, [by that it means more fuel efficient, not more clean]; improvements to airspace and ground operations; sustainable aviation fuels [none probably exist, without huge unintended side effects]; and carbon offsetting methods [ie. keeping on emitting, and paying to cancel out the carbon savings made by others elsewhere, postponing the evil moment when they actually reduce aviation CO2 emissions.] There is hype like how they will: “Make Heathrow a leading hub for the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels by providing the necessary airport infrastructure, and support for pilot projects” and how they are calling on “ICAO to develop global goals for the uptake of sustainable alternative fuels.” And lots of hope about those peat bogs, which they are hoping will save their bacon ….
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Read the text below with full critical faculties awake … It contains a lot of nonsense … beware
Heathrow unveils its plan for carbon neutral growth
1.12.2018 (Heathrow website)
Quote:
“Airport reveals four key action areas to reduce and offset the growth in emissions from new flights
Announcement demonstrates that growth at the airport is not a choice between economy and environment
Comprehensive plan suggests maximising incentives for airlines, investing in more UK peatland restoration and supporting sustainable fuels
Heathrow will consult with partners on the delivery of this plan ahead of the first statutory consultation on expansion in summer 2019
In a first for the UK aviation industry, today Heathrow has set out its plans to expand in a carbon neutral way. The airport has set out its stall, outlining the role it will play on four key areas to reduce and offset carbon emissions from the growth in flights, created by an additional runway.
Heathrow’s plan builds on the momentum of technological change within the aviation industry to make travel more sustainable. While international aviation demand is projected to increase over the decades ahead – Heathrow will use its leadership and market position, to capitalise on the opportunities from expansion to ensure growth is met in a responsible and sustainable way at the UK’s hub.
The plan outlines action on 4 key areas including:
cleaner aircraft technology,
improvements to airspace and ground operations,
sustainable aviation fuels,
and carbon offsetting methods.
Specifically:
On aircraft technology, Heathrow will:
Treat environmental performance of aircraft as a key consideration of slot allocations for new flights;
Offer free landing fees for a year at the airport for the first commercially viable electric flight;
Continue offering cheaper landing fees for cleaner and quieter aircraft;
Review the infrastructure requirements for charging electric aircraft through the Heathrow Centre of Excellence for Sustainability
On airspace and ground operations, Heathrow will:
Support the Government’s plans on modernising airspace – including the potential elimination of routine stacking for aircraft coming to land;
Reduce emissions from aircraft on the ground through reduced taxi times, increased access to on-stand power sources, and fewer engines used while moving around the airport;
To promote the use of sustainable alternative fuels, Heathrow will:
Make Heathrow a leading hub for the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels by providing the necessary airport infrastructure, and support for pilot projects
To develop and promote new ways of carbon offsetting, Heathrow will:
Continue investing in UK peatland restoration and other projects to play a key role in developing the next generation of UK carbon offsets. Peatland restoration has the potential to be amongst the highest-quality, most cost-effective carbon offsetting methods – and a pilot project is already underway in Lancashire.
Heathrow is also calling on:
ICAO – the UN body for international aviation – to develop global goals for the uptake of sustainable alternative fuels
The UK Government to engage ICAO and fellow member states to agree a 2050 goal for international aviation
Over coming months, Heathrow will seek feedback from members in the aviation industry, advocacy groups and climate change experts to set out further details in its plan. Members of the public will then have an opportunity to feed into this process– including plans to mitigate road traffic and construction -in the next statutory consultation on Heathrow expansion in the summer of 2019.
Heathrow Chief Executive, John Holland-Kaye said:
“Climate change is the biggest challenge facing our generation. But it is not aviation that’s the enemy – it is carbon. We are committed to taking the lead to deliver carbon neutral growth in aviation, and the plan we launch today sets out the roadmap to get there.” ”
– ENDS –
Notes to Editors:
“Heathrow’s full carbon neutral growth map is attached as a PDF on the side of this webpage.
About Heathrow Airport and Heathrow 2.0
Heathrow is Europe’s largest airport and one of the world’s top international aviation hubs. As the UK’s global gateway, Heathrow welcomes more than 78 million passengers every year. The airport is home to more than 80 airlines and is Britain’s largest cargo port, helping to drive British trade growth by connecting the nation to more than 200 destinations around the world. Heathrow is currently ranked by passengers as the ‘Best Airport in Western Europe’ for the third year running and the ‘Best Airport for Shopping’ for eight years in a row. Terminal 2 also holds the title of the ‘World’s Best Airport Terminal’ and is the Heathrow’s most sustainable, now powered by 100% renewable gas and electricity. ”
Heathrow 2.0, the airport’s sustainability strategy can be accessed here: http://your.heathrow.com/sustainability/
http://mediacentre.heathrow.com/pressrelease/details/81/Expansion-News-23/10359
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