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Gatwick pledges to become carbon neutral by the Spring

Gatwick Airport has become the first UK airport to join the RE100 renewable electricity alliance and says it is on course to become carbon neutral by this Spring.

The airport is one of three new members joining the global alliance announced during the World Economic Forum taking place in Davos, and joins the likes of Ikea, Apple and BT among the illustrious list of companies driving the corporate adoption of renewable energy sources.

According to the South East airport, the move heralds its transition to becoming an entirely carbon neutral operation by the Spring after it has been purchasing 100% renewable energy since 2013.

With 80% of its carbon footprint coming from electricity consumption, Gatwick said that its remaining emissions would be offset through investments in renewable energy programmes, and continued investment in energy and fuel efficiency, including the launch of its waste plant heat generator for its North Terminal this year.

Chief Executive Officer Stewart Wingate, said that the airport’s emissions were now either at the same level or less than their 1990s totals despite the fact that passenger numbers have double.

He said: “The initiatives announced today are important milestones in Gatwick’s journey to become the UK’s most sustainable airport and one of the greenest in the world.

“We are serious about growing sustainably and we have some ambitious plans to develop in the most environmentally responsible way possible.”

The RE100 programme, which is is led by The Climate Group with CDP, includes 86 of the world’s biggest companies who combined create demand for 107TWh of renewable electricity a year - equivalent to the entire yearly demand of Holland in 2015.

Damian Ryan, Acting Chief Executive Officer at The Climate Group, welcomed Gatwick to the programme and said: “It is really encouraging to see companies such as Gatwick committing to bold climate action, helping us move towards a net zero-emissions economy.

“But we need to see faster progress. In order to deliver on the Paris Agreement and keep global warming well below two degrees, we need governments to remove policy barriers and create investment incentives that can provide easier access to renewable energy.

“And we need more business leaders to influence the usage of renewable power right along their supply chains.”

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