Adelaide Airport internationally recognised for reducing carbon emissions
Thursday May 14, 2015
Adelaide Airport has become the first airport in Australia to be recognised by the global Airport Carbon Accreditation program for optimising its management and reduction of carbon emissions.
Adelaide Airport Ltd (AAL) is now certified as Airport Carbon Accredited at Level 3 (‘Optimisation’), for its work in reducing its carbon footprint whilst also working to guide and influence stakeholders to do the same. It is just the seventh airport in the entire Asia-Pacific region to reach this level.
Airport Carbon Accreditation is a voluntary, internationally-renowned, institutionally-recognised carbon standard for the airport industry.
AAL Managing Director, Mark Young, said Adelaide Airport had reinforced its credentials as the most environmentally friendly airport in Australia.
“Adelaide Airport is now in rare company for our carbon reduction initiatives alongside the likes of Hong Kong and Incheon international airports,” Mr Young said.
“Some of our more recent initiatives include construction of green star rated buildings, installation of LED airfield lighting, bicycle storage facilities at the terminal and purchase of an electric car for staff use. In addition, we’re now working closely with our tenants, including airlines and ground handlers, to jointly recognise and reduce our carbon footprints.”
Adelaide Airport has also developed a five-year sustainability strategy and carbon management plan, which has identified a number of future carbon friendly initiatives.
Mr Young said the airport had previously received Australia-wide recognition for its environmental activities and the Level 3 accreditation was a significant achievement to receive international recognition for this work. It is consistent with the South Australian Government’s commitment to sustainability and the recent achievement and extension of the State’s renewable energy targets.
Adelaide Airport has previously undertaken a range of green initiatives including solar power, energy reduction in the main terminal and stormwater recycling.
Mrs Patti Chau, Regional Director ACI Asia-Pacific said: “I wish to congratulate Adelaide Airport on the accreditation. This accreditation is a further level of formal recognition of Adelaide Airport’s long standing commitment to sustainability.”
Airport Carbon Accreditation was first launched by ACI Europe in 2009, and was extended to ACI Asia-Pacific in November 2011, ACI Africa in June 2013 and ACI North America in September 2014. It is an independent program administered by WSP Group, an international consultancy appointed to enforce the programme’s strict certification criteria.
Currently, there are 123 airports certified at one of the 4 available levels in the program. Those airports welcome over a quarter of global air passenger traffic.
