Scientists agree that climate change – long term increases in global temperatures causing changes in climatic conditions – is caused by human activity, principally through the release of carbon dioxide (CO2), associated with the burning of fossil fuels, into the atmosphere.

Aviation contributes to climate change in two ways: primarily through emissions from aircraft in flight and on the ground; and to a much lesser extent through the energy used by airport buildings and ground operations.

Our approach
BAA Scotland accepts that aviation has a small, but growing, impact on climate change. We believe that our industry must play its part in addressing the climate change challenge and we continue to work with airlines, government, environmental NGOs  and international organisations to find and pursue the most appropriate measures to achieve this.

Our approach is two-fold. Where we have direct control over carbon emissions, such as energy use in our terminals, we aim to lead the airport industry in managing and reducing them.

It is our objective at BAA to reduce our CO2 emissions from energy use by 30% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.

Where we do not have direct control over emissions, like those from flights, we will use our influence to lead change in the industry.

BAA is committed to supporting the EU’s plan to bring aviation greenhouse gas emissions within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as soon as practicable. This will force the aviation industry to make a choice: either cut emissions or pay for permits which will fund innovation in other industries to deliver matching emissions reductions.

For more information on our approach to climate change please see the BAA Corporate Responsibility Report.