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Bristol Airport accused of ‘greenwash’ as it announces net zero ambitions
Bristol Airport has revealed ambitious plans for it to be the first airport in the UK to be carbon neutral.
But these plans ignore the airplanes that will fly in and out of the airport and the cars that will park there.
The announcement also comes days before a public enquiry is due to start on North Somerset Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for the airport to expand capacity to up to 12 million passengers per year.
Green Party councillors have denounced the airport’s plans to be carbon neutral by 2021 and to reach net-zero by 2030 as “utter nonsense”.
“Bristol Airport’s claims today are an utter nonsense and a cynical form greenwashing,” said Clifton councillor Carla Denyer.
“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.”
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees was at Bristol Airport on Friday as airport bosses announced their plans.
He 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.”
Bristol Airport has announced it hopes to achieve being a carbon neutral airport four years ahead of schedule.
The airport’s commitments to be a net zero airfield are to have net zero buildings and operate a net zero fleet of vehicles.
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: ‘Ridiculous plans for Bristol Airport will only be stopped if individuals continue to resist them’
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