Wilder Carbon Units reserved or purchased
Net Zero Target Scopes 1 & 2
Decade of Change
In 2010 Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) – the company licensed to operate Gatwick Airport - took the bold step of launching an ambitious 10-year sustainability plan. ‘Decade of Change’ detailed the steps the airport intended to take to reduce its carbon emissions and impact on the local environment, while supporting local communities. Through this work London Gatwick achieved substantial reductions in direct carbon emissions and water usage, as well as increasing its contribution to the economy and the local community and achieving key certifications for zero waste to landfill and biodiversity management.
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Second Decade of ChangeEnvironmental CommitmentsRead the Second Decade of Change Policy Document →Building on its impressive work in 2021 the airport launched its second Decade of Change which detailed 10 goals it would meet by 2030.
These include:
· Achieve Net Zero for GAL Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030
· Reduce the airport’s potable water consumption by 50% on a per passenger basis by 2030 compared to 2019, continue to improve the quality of water leaving the airport and work with partners to promote local water stewardship.
· Ensure that by 2030 all materials used at Gatwick in operations, commercial activity and construction, are repurposed for beneficial use i.e. repaired, reused, donated, recycled, composted or converted to fuel for heating or transport.
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Second Decade of ChangeClimate ActionsRead the Second Decade of Change Roadmaps here →A number of measures are being undertaken to achieve GAL’s targeted reduction in Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions:
• Decarbonisation of Heat: GAL has a robust Capital Investment programme (CIP) to support Net Zero 2030, which will aim to remove the use of natural gas for heating and hot water; removing the most significant contributor to scope 1 emissions.
• Zero Emission Vehicles: The aim is to remove the use of diesel and petrol as fuels for GAL vehicles. GAL is already using HVO (diesel alternative) as a transition fuel while the electrification of the fleet occurs. The fleet of over 400 vehicles will be electrified, in line with the asset replacement strategy (thus minimising embodied carbon impacts) by 2030.
• Refrigerant gases: GAL is pursuing a strategy to minimise the fugitive emissions of F-gases by identifying and fixing leaks more quickly. Also, where possible, assets are being modified to use F-gases that have a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), so that when leaks occur they have a lower impact.
Residual Emission action
Whilst there is no limit to GAL’s ambition to decarbonise emissions, those related to refrigerant gases, fire training, and de-icer will remain as residual emissions in 2030. They will be reduced to the extent that they can, with the remainder being offset by 2030. GAL will aim to acquire robust offsets, specifically exploring the option of local offsets.
Having carefully considered potential partnerships, the airport chose to work with Wilder Carbon and picked the Honeygar Farm and Ironhurst Valley Nature Reserve sites, supported by the Somerset and Kent Wildlife Trusts respectively.
The airport's investment will lead to 10,000 tonnes CO2e being captured before 2039.
“We have an unwavering commitment to sustainability. There is no ceiling to our ambition to decarbonise and to achieving our aim of being net zero for emissions under our direct control by 2030. We are making great progress, as detailed in our 2025 Sustainability Report. GAL is doing all we can to reduce our carbon footprint but come 2030 a small proportion of greenhouse gas emission will remain. We won’t be able to eradicate these emission sources because the technology simply doesn’t exist. We carefully considered which sites we would select and are delighted that one is so close. I am excited to see how it will be transformed over the coming years as our partnership progresses. Our thanks go to the Wilder Carbon team for helping us find our partner sites and to the two Trusts.”
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Supported ProjectIronhurst Valley Nature Reserve (Furnace & Hoathly Farm) →View the Wilder Carbon Projects supported by Gatwick Airport Ltd
