Air boss hopes for carbon-neutral flights
ALL Scottish flights could become carbon-neutral by offsetting their impact on the environment through eco projects, according to the boss of Edinburgh Airport.
Chief executive Gordon Dewar hailed carbon offsetting schemes, such as funding solar power in hospitals or schools, as a “true bridge” to a carbonfree aviation future. The airport became carbonneutral this year and plans a solar farm to provide one quarter of its energy needs.
But Dewar admitted a mechanism would have to be found to fund carbon offsetting from flying, which he estimated as less than £5 per passenger on flights in Europe. He said projects could include funding solar power for schools or hospitals and heat pumps or insulation for council housing.
Speaking at the Scottish Passenger Agents Association’s centenary dinner, Dewar said: “The enemy here is carbon.
“It’s not aviation. Let us say that over time we would find ways to collect funds to meet that carbon so that every passenger flying to and from Scotland could do it carbon neutrally.
“We can then go further and not only would we meet the cost, we would generate some of the most exciting and inclusive carbon reduction schemes right here in Scotland.”