Global engineering firm Mott MacDonald has begun work with London Heathrow Airport to help deliver its carbon reduction targets.

The work forms a core part of the airport’s capital development programme for the current five-year regulatory period (H7), which runs from 2022 to 2026.

As programme designers for the H7 Carbon and Sustainability Programme, Mott MacDonald will work with Heathrow Airport to plan and design projects that will enable a reduction of Heathrow’s carbon footprint by 2.3 million tons by the end of H7 (2026) and lay the foundation to achieve net zero by 2050.

Heathrow’s chief solutions officer Helen Elsby said: “We are delighted that Mott MacDonald has partnered with us as programme designers to us help drive forward the airport’s sustainability agenda and ensure we deliver our ambitious carbon reduction programme.

“Decarbonising aviation is widely considered our sector’s greatest challenge, but Heathrow is committed to reducing our carbon footprint in order to achieve net zero by 2050, and this announcement only accelerates our shift towards a greener future.”

Mott MacDonald’s experience in decarbonisation and energy transition includes helping develop the latest industry guidance for PAS 2080 (a framework that enhances sustainability and reduces carbon in infrastructure), supporting the development of the UK Department for Transport’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan, working with National Highways to implement and deliver its Net Zero roadmap, and helping the Environment Agency with its net zero roadmaps.

Image: Heathrow Airport