Newcastle Airport Net Zero figures ‘ignore flight’ pollution

The airport recently announced that it had achieved a 46 per cent reduction in carbon emissions since 2019, which its chief corporate affairs officer, Alice Andreasen, labelled a “major milestone”, adding that it “clearly shows” that the transport hub is “well ahead of schedule” on its journey to Net Zero by 2035.

Newcastle International said it had done so through several initiatives, including the switch to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to power all non-electric vehicles across its site, the installation of rapid-rise doors in the baggage handling area, AirDoors at the terminal entrance and the decommissioning of the gas‑powered hot water system at outlets in the departure lounge.

The airport’s announcements focused on the 46 per cent cut and its Net Zero 2035 goal, without spelling out that the target applies only to its own operations.

That detail appears in its Masterplan and Net Zero strategy, where aircraft emissions are listed separately under Scope 3, with the airport saying it will “work with airlines to reduce” them.

While local climate campaign groups, Aircraft Noise Action Group (ANAG) and Climate Action Newcastle (CAN), have praised the airport’s steps towards reducing its environmental impact on site, ANAG have stated that the promotion of its Net Zero credentials leaves out flight emissions, which they say “are by far and away the main contributor to climate change”.

“This fact is buried in the Masterplan, and most people will almost certainly assume ‘Net Zero’ covers aircraft as well as buildings and vehicles,” they added.

Both ANAG and CAN also stated that the airport’s Masterplan growth plan – moving from around five million annual passengers currently to nine million in 2040 – will “wipe out” and “outstrip” the emission reductions in its operations hub.

As part of its 2040 Masterplan, the airport is aiming to increase its annual passenger numbers by four million (Image: Newcastle Airport)

CAN has also asked that the airport’s carbon emission reduction information appear alongside projections of emission increases from the “huge number” of extra flights proposed.

Newcastle Airport said that the 46 per cent reduction relates to Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from its “direct operations” with “emissions from flights reported separately by the airlines themselves”.

It added: “Crucially, our ambition to reach Net Zero by 2035 has been developed in line with the growth projections outlined in the Masterplan and reflects the areas where the Airport has direct control.”

A spokesperson for ANAG said: “Provided the airport makes it absolutely clear that its Net Zero target excludes flights, and that flights are by far the main contributor to climate change, we would have no objection to it describing itself as ‘on track’, for its own operations only. The airport needs to be honest with the public so that people can make up their minds based on complete information.

“The Masterplan’s growth plans, moving from around five million passengers now to around nine million in 2040, cannot be achieved without more flights. That increase in flight numbers will bring increased climate‑changing emissions; there is an unbreakable link between the two. In our view, those extra emissions will wipe out the gains made on the ground.

“We think Newcastle Airport is big enough already and would like to see it abandon its expansion plans and drop any ambition to host long‑distance flights, which have the greatest climate impact.”

A spokesperson for Climate Action Newcastle said: “Based on the emissions total arising from current flight numbers, it is clear that the Masterplan’s extra emissions from nearly doubling passenger numbers will totally outstrip emission reductions in its hub operations.

“By positioning both sets of information together, it will help to avoid any confusion about the overall consequences of the airport’s plans.

“The simple fact is that the airport’s plans will generate extra greenhouse gas emissions, which will accelerate harmful global heating.”

A Newcastle Airport spokesperson said: “Our 2040 Masterplan sets out a clear vision for the Airport’s future and was shaped by our largest ever public consultation, with more than 600 responses from residents, businesses and stakeholders.

“This included input from community groups such as the Aircraft Noise Action Group, with whom we continue to meet regularly.

“Through initiatives such as our on-site solar farm, the creation of new woodland areas and the transition to a fully electric vehicle fleet, we have been recognised as an industry leader and are already delivering real, measurable results, putting us significantly ahead of our Net Zero target.”