Row over airport's carbon neutral plans
23.07.10
Manchester Airport has announced plans to become one of the greenest in Europe, but environmental campaigners are not impressed and say it could go further, the Manchester Evening News reports. The airport has unveiled its first sustainability report, which sets out how it intends to become ‘carbon neutral’ by 2015 through initiatives such as low energy light bulbs. But the proposals have been slammed by green campaigners as the commitment does not cover emissions from aircraft flying to and from the hub, which it has said are the responsibility of airlines.
The has said insists it is on track to become carbon neutral from its ground operations by introducing a series of measures to cut waste and reduce energy consumption. They include extending its wildlife area by 100 hectares and installing energy efficient lighting across its site.
The report also reveals that the airport has become Britain’s first recycling ‘super zone’, leading the way in a national initiative for recycling facilities in public places. 125 recycling bins are to be installed in the terminals to stop 100 tonnes of waste from going into landfill. The report details the airport’s commitment to sustainable growth and limiting its impact on the environment and its neighbours.
But Manchester Friends of the Earth criticised the policy of excluding aircraft emissions from the plans. A spokesman said: ‘Manchester Airport must take sustainability seriously. The bigger challenge is still how it can reconcile its green aspirations with encouraging people to fly. It seems set on expansion, to the detriment of local communities and those likely to suffer as a result of climate change.’
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