Terminal 2 now powered by renewable energy, but airport concedes not enough journeys to and from the hub are being made on public transport
Heathrow has today reported mixed progress towards its vision of becoming a 'carbon neutral' airport, revealing significant progress on its sourcing of green power but missed targets for public transport use.
The airport, which is at the centre of a long-running row over its plans to build a third runway, set out ambitious plans for carbon neutral growth earlier this year.
The strategy saw the company pledge to become 'carbon neutral' by 2020, as part of a long term plan to enable net zero emission operations by 2050 through measures to encourage cleaner aircraft technology, improve airspace and ground operations to boost efficiency, advance sustainable aviation fuels, and invest in carbon offsetting methods.
In its 2018 progress report published today, Heathrow said Terminal 2 is now powered entirely by green energy and confirmed the launch of its peatland restoration project, which it is investing in as a means of offsetting its carbon impact.
But the company also admitted it missed targets to ensure 43 per cent of passengers travel to the airport on public transport in 2018, an interim goal towards its ultimate 50 per cent target for 2030.
In 2018 40.6 per cent of passengers used public transport - a shortfall Heathrow blamed on delays to the Crossrail network opening and increased use of taxi apps such as Uber.
Nevertheless, Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said he is still committed to obtaining 'carbon neutral' status for the airport by the end of next year, while working to support emissions cuts from the wider aviation industry.
"I am clear that we must use our influence to move the global aviation industry to net zero emissions by the middle of the century," he said. "We have made a start but we need to increase the rate of change."
The news comes at a delicate time for Heathrow. The airport is still awaiting planning consent for the construction of its third runway, which the government approved last year. Campaigners argue the development - and the growth in flights it is expecting to herald - is not compatible with the UK's existing climate targets, let alone the more ambitious net zero target the government is considering.
The government has repeatedly argued that advances in aviation technology means expansion can be compatible with the UK's carbon targets and air quality rules. Legal efforts by campaigners to challenge the government's analysis and argue that expansion is incompatible with the Paris Agreement were rejected by the High Court earlier this month.
However, it emerged late last week that the government has received a request from campaign group Plan B for it to review the airport's planned expansion in light of the House of Commons' declaration of a climate emergency and the Committee on Climate Change's recommendation the UK set a net zero emission target.
In its response to the campaign group the government suggested the prospect of a net zero target will be taken into account when deciding whether a review of the decision to green light the Heathrow plans should be granted.