Leeds Bradford Airport has improved its Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark score for the fourth consecutive year.
This year, the West Yorkshire-based airport achieved a five star rating for its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance and management, and a score of 97, following 95 in 2023, 89 in 2022, and 67 in 2021.
“I’m delighted we achieved this industry leading GRESB score and it’s great news for LBA,” said Joselyn Rankin, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Leeds Bradford Airport. “A 30% increase since 2021 and consistent improvement across the GRESB assessment criteria shows the investment and hard work being made by our teams in this critical area.”
She continued: “Having committed to becoming a net zero carbon airport by 2030, the assessment allows us to develop a deeper understanding of our ESG performance and adapt to the changing needs of our customers and local community. It also presents us with an opportunity to talk to the community about the progress we are making in futureproofing our airport for 2030 and beyond. “This result puts us in a strong position to start to make real inroads on a fully holistic approach to ESG, especially our accountability in maintaining our social licence to operate.”
With the new score, the airport is now ranked at second in the UK, marking an impressive milestone on its Net Zero Carbon Roadmap journey. Other ventures by Leeds Bradford have included investing in solar-powered infrastructure, establishing EV charging facilities for customer and operational vehicles, and switching to electric or renewably powered vehicles and erasing gas as an energy source from the terminal.
The airport has also confirmed its support of proposals to build a parkway railway station and mass transit system to connect the airport to a cycling, walking, bus, and rail plan.
“Each year, the GRESB Benchmark serves as a powerful reminder of the positive impact that focused sustainability efforts can have on our industry and beyond,” commented Sebastien Roussotte, CEO, GRESB. “We commend participants for their ongoing commitment to sustainable development. The results of this year’s GRESB Assessments are a testament to the progress being made across the sector. It’s clear that our participants are helping set new standards in sustainability.”
Photo: Leeds Bradford Airport
