SOUTHAMPTON Airport has been named as the best in the UK for its efforts towards being green.

Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) has given high praise to the Hampshire facility.

Southampton took the top spot and together with Aberdeen, it received a five-star rating for its sustainability performance.

Steve Szalay, operations director, said: “We are delighted to have been ranked the number one airport in the UK and second in Europe in the latest GRESB results.

“This is down to the hard work our staff and colleagues and we have continued to improve our results each year.

Southampton Airport, Eastleigh. Photo credit: Cllr Keith House

“As one of the UK’s largest airport groups, we are committed to ensuring that we balance the undoubted economic and social benefits delivered by our airports with our climate responsibilities.

“How we do this has been set out in our Sustainability Strategy, which was launched last month and details a clear roadmap on how Southampton can continue to support our region to not only recover, but prosper post-pandemic while decarbonising.”

AGS Airports, which owns Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports.

In the worldwide sustainability category Southampton was third, Aberdeen seventh and Glasgow ninth.

Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports Ltd, said: “At AGS we are committed to balancing the undoubted economic and social benefits of aviation with our climate change responsibilities.

Derek Provan , CEO for AGS Airports, which owns Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports pictured at Glasgow airport. Travel corridors allowing people to enter the UK without self-isolating closed at 4am this morning, Monday. ..

“To have all three of our airports to be named as the top three performing airports for sustainability by GRESB is a great achievement.

“I am pleased to say we have already made significant progress in addressing our environmental impacts. Since 2018, we have reduced our direct carbon emissions by 52% and in 2020 each of our airports achieved carbon neutrality status. However, we recognised that there is more work to do in addressing our impact and as a group, we have set ourselves the target of achieving net zero carbon for our direct emissions by the mid-2030s.

“We are also committed to working with the wider aviation industry to achieve net zero and deliver a future that is inclusive, low carbon and connected.”

Each year, GRESB assesses and benchmarks the ESG performance of assets worldwide, providing clarity and insights to financial markets on complex sustainability topics.

Sander Paul van Tongeren, co-founder and managing director at GRESB, said: “GRESB Sector Leaders are the organisations that are setting the pace and driving progress toward a net zero future. We are proud to recognise your determination, achievement, and leadership in creating a more sustainable world.

“Across the globe, organizations are demonstrating a deep commitment to ESG integration while making important strides towards a more sustainable future for us all."