Heathrow runway expansion sets sights on carbon neutrality

Plans include a new R&D incubator, an ambition for growth from a new runway to be carbon neutral and at least halving the number of late-running departures to reduce noise for local communities

Speaking at the BCC’s Annual Conference, Heathrow Chief Executive John Holland-Kaye unveiled Heathrow 2.0, the airport’s new sustainability leadership strategy which aspires to make the airport a centre of excellence for the aviation industry. The strategy announces ambitious goals to reduce the airport’s and the industry’s environmental impacts while maximising economic opportunities throughout the UK.

Heathrow 2.0 was drafted with input from environmental groups, academics, community leaders, as well as Heathrow colleagues, passengers, commercial partners and suppliers.

As part of Heathrow 2.0, the airport has invested an initial £500,000 in its first R&D incubator to minimise aviation’s impacts like noise and carbon emissions. Heathrow will consult leading experts to identify participants from the aviation industry, academia and business. By the end of the year, more funding sources will also be identified so that the incubator opens its doors in 2019.

Heathrow 2.0  puts forward targets to deliver a sustainable future for aviation. It includes an aspiration to make growth from a new runway at Heathrow carbon neutral, and the use of 100% renewable electricity at the airport from 2017 in a major step toward creating a zero-carbon airport. It also proposes establishing an airside ultra-low emission zone by 2025, to improve quality of life through cleaner air.

Heathrow 2.0 also outlines new initiatives for the benefit of local communities – including a voluntary Quiet Night Charter seeking to at least halve by 2022 the number of flights on non-disrupted days leaving late after 1130pm. Heathrow 2.0 launches a “Fly Quiet and Clean” league table, which will publicly rank airlines according to their noise and emissions.

Finally, Heathrow 2.0 aims to deliver a better working place for colleagues by creating 10,000 apprenticeships by 2030 with a third runway, and publishing a roadmap in 2017 setting out how to transition Heathrow’s supply chain employees working at the airport to be paid the London Living Wage.

Speaking to participants at the BCC conference, Heathrow Chief Executive  John Holland-Kaye said:

“Heathrow 2.0. is a step-change for our business, and accelerates the shift in our industry towards a sustainable future for aviation. By focusing on the long-term, and through working together, we can deliver a world-leading economy – innovative, competitive, successful and sustainable.  

“And we can create a future where our business, our people, our communities, our country and our world, can all thrive.”