BRISTOL Airport has become the first regional airport in the UK to reach Level 4+ in the international carbon accreditation scheme.
It achieved the 'Level 4+ Transition’ status, making it the first of its kind in the country to do so, as part of a global carbon management certification programme.
The level signifies that the airport has an effective long-term strategy for absolute emissions reductions, influences third parties to promote emissions reductions, and offsets the residual carbon emissions over which the airport has control, using internationally recognised offsets.
The accreditation has been awarded by the Airports Council International (ACI).
It requires two stages of external verification, first by an independent, qualified assessor and secondly by ACI, against the scheme's requirements.
Clare Hennessey, director of planning and sustainability at the facility, said: "Reaching Level 4+ is an important and independent recognition of our progress getting to net zero carbon operations by 2030.
"The accreditation comes just as we’ve launched our new Sustainability Strategy, which sets out clear goals and targets for the next five years.
"Our strategy sets a benchmark for all to see and to which we will report our progress."
Between 2014 and 2022, Bristol Airport successfully reduced its CO2 per passenger from direct emissions by 61 per cent.
This impressive feat was achieved through measures such as improving energy efficiency in buildings, implementing electric vehicles and boosting on-site renewable energy generation.
Bristol Airport is committed to reaching net zero operations by 2030, and has set an interim target of reducing direct emissions by 73 per cent by 2027.
Realising such a goal would necessitate the discontinuation of gas heating, replacing it with air source heat pumps, the conversion of more diesel vehicles to electric, and LED-equipped runway lighting.
Regarding non-direct emissions, the airport is actively collaborating with aerospace partners and others in the region to speed up the delivery of zero-emission, hydrogen-powered flight by 2035.
The airport's first 'EV filling station' is under construction, aiming to persuade passengers to switch to electric vehicles.
Bristol Airport is also investing £250,000 annually into its Aviation Carbon Transition (ACT) programme, which sponsors research and innovation in curbing non-direct emissions.
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