Airport leaders carry environmental message to MPs
Airport leaders carry environmental message to MPsKeywords: Airports, Environment
The British Parliament at Westminster recently saw the launch of a new manual designed to help mitigate the impact of airport operations on the environment. At a reception hosted by Gwyneth Dunwoody MP, Chairman of the Commons Transport Select Committee, leaders of UK airports launched the first ever publication designed specifically to assist airports by offering guidance on improved environmental performance.
The manual, produced by the Airport Operators Association, was launched in the presence of the new British Minister for Aviation, Bob Ainsworth MP as well as representatives of airports from across the country including the current Chairman of the AOA, Geoff Muirhead (chief executive of Manchester Airport) and the managing director of Heathrow, Roger Cato.
The manual provides practical guidance on a range of environmental issues including addressing impacts from noise, emissions and pollution. It also includes recommendations to improve surface access to airports, echoing concrete steps already taken by many airports to increase the proportion of passenger journeys made by public transport. The manual has been supported by the Environment Agency whose chief executive, Barbara Young, commented: "The Environment Agency welcomes this initiative by the Airport Operators Association as an important step towards the reduction of the environmental impact of our airports".
AOA chairman, Geoff Muirhead commented: "Effective environmental management at airports is essential if aviation is to continue to make its vital economic and social contribution to Britain's sustainable development agenda. Getting this balance right is one of the most important issues the aviation industry currently has to face".
AOA chief executive, Keith Jowett, added: "Throughout the country there are many examples of airports taking a proactive approach to environmental mitigation and we envisage that this manual will assist airports by complementing their existing environmental programmes".
Opponents of the aviation industry claim that meeting demand for air travel would threaten the environment, but when the increasing efforts of airports to limit their environmental impact are taken into account, controlled growth of the industry becomes a more sustainable proposition.
Further details are available from AOA. Tel: +44 (0) 207 222 2249.
