British Antarctic Survey publishes carbon footprint for first time
For the first time in its history, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has published details of its carbon footprint for the year April 2023 – March 2024; highlighting business travel and BAS aircraft to be responsible for 9.61% and 7.25% respectively of its total annual emissions. However, endeavours are ongoing to make more areas of operations – including its aviation elements – more sustainable.
Reporting its emissions separately from its parent organisation the Natural Environment Research Council (UKRI-NERC), the BAS now intends to publish this data on an annual basis in a quest for heightened transparency; including Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
Although over half of the BAS’ measurable carbon emissions (50.57%) is from fuel used in the polar research vessel the RRS Sir David Attenborough, with construction of new facilities the second largest contributor (12.86%), business travel is currently the third biggest producer of emissions (9.6%) which “includes travel to and from Antarctic, along with travel to conferences and events,” explains BAS.
“Following business travel, are emissions related to activities of the BAS aircraft (7.25%) which includes a Dash 7 and four Twin Otters delivering science and logistics,” continues BAS. However, although these aircraft currently tun on aviation turbine fuel, BAS is currently exploring “using lower carbon alternatives, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), alongside renewable energy sources)”.
This mirrors endeavours undertaken with regards to fuel used onboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough, which although currently burns mostly marine gas oil, is currently trialling a more sustainable fuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil).
During the reporting period, BAS also tested the uncrewed aerial vehicle Windracers in Antarctica, describing it as having “the potential to reduce [BAS’] airborne science emissions”.
Another NERC-owned initiative, the FAAM Airborne Laboratory (a specially adapted Bae-146 aircraft), also recently announced its intention to use SAF for all flights from its home base of Cranfield Airport (and “wherever practicably possible for overseas scientific monitoring projects”.
