Climate Change is a significant global issue. It is now widely accepted that human activity is contributing to the increasing amounts of greenhouse gases. This in turn is increasing the risk of global climate change, with consequences such as rising sea levels and increased frequency of disruptive weather. 

Aviation contributes to climate change in two ways: primarily through emissions in flight and on the ground; and to a much lesser extent through the energy used by airport buildings and ground operations, which this section deals with. 

We recognise that climate change is an important issue and we are committed to playing our role in addressing it by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions at the airport.

For more detailed information please see our brochure: ‘Heathrow and Climate Change‘

Our approach
BAA is one of the top industrial users of energy in the UK. We are responsible for providing airport infrastructure including terminals, and the heating, cooling and power needs of these buildings all contribute to the production of greenhouse gases. These activities are responsible for approximately 270,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year at Heathrow.

We are committed to reducing our CO2 emissions from energy consumption of our fixed assets by 15% by 2010 and then by 30% by 2020, using the emissions in 1990 as a baseline.

At Heathrow we set annual targets to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions against business as usual forecasts. To help us achieve this we have developed local programmes to influence behavioural change and investment in energy efficient technologies.

Our performance
Our plans