Air traffic service provider, NATS, was recognised as a European Climate Leader by the Financial Times for the 2nd year running and achieved leadership A- CDP rating for environmental stewardship, putting the company in the top 2% of 13,000 companies disclosing environmental management data to CDP globally. These achievements and more feature in NATS’ Responsible Business Report, published today.
NATS’ GHG emissions targets have been independently validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and awarded ‘Business Ambition” status – the highest ambition possible – demonstrating consistency with the reductions required to keep climate change to 1.5°C. Overall, GHG emissions from running the business are 37% lower than the company baseline set in 2018/19, and ahead of NATS’ target profile.
Managing airspace in a way which allows more efficient flying is already playing a major role in helping the aviation industry reduce its environmental impact. One example of this is Free Route Airspace (FRA), which NATS introduced in December 2021, enabling annual savings of 10,500 tCO2. It is the biggest ever geographical change to UK airspace.
Employees went to extraordinary lengths to support the company’s corporate charities, Aerobility and the Jon Egging Trust (JET), helping to host workshops for school children and fundraising, as well as donating over £200k through the company’s ‘Give As You Earn’ scheme. More than 25 local charities and community groups also benefitted through NATS’ grant scheme, the Footprint Fund.
The report also details work undertaken to increase the diversity of the workforce and continuing to enable agile working while promoting employee wellbeing.
NATS launched their Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) vision in October 2021- Under the Same Sky and established a D&I steering group to include representatives from across the business together with employee networks and trade unions. The company noted a reduction in the Gender Pay Gap and also introduced an Ethnicity Pay Report for the first time.
Recruitment processes were enhanced with new partnerships and channels with Fantasy Wings, Vercida and STEM Returners. National Inclusion Week was marked for the first time with a programme of activities, open to all.
Martin Rolfe, CEO, said, “With Covid-19 still disrupting both our professional and personal lives, this has been another challenging year, but one in which we have been able to make great progress as a responsible business. Overall emissions rose moderately year-on-year as a consequence of the rebound from Covid and the previous year’s particularly low emissions figures however, we reviewed our company strategy and defined objectives for the business through to 2040 and these strengthen our commitment to a sustainable future for aviation. The strategy also recognises the importance of our talented employees, with inclusion, career development and wellbeing remaining front and centre.”
