The global association for Airports, Airports Council International (ACI) World, and the five ACI regions in partnership with their members have established a long-term carbon goal for their member airports.
The five ACI regions include ACI Africa, ACI Asia-Pacific, ACI Europe, ACI Latin America & Caribbean, and ACI North America.
According to the long-term goal, “ACI member airports at a global level commit to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and urge governments to provide the necessary support in this endeavor.” ACI’s long-term carbon goal relates to the carbon emissions under the direct control of airport operators and it will be a crucial part of the aviation industry’s contribution towards this global effort.
Airports have long been at the forefront of addressing, minimizing, and mitigating aviation’s environmental problems. This has been demonstrated through their ability to reduce emissions over the last 10 years, supported and enabled by Airport Carbon Accreditation despite significant traffic growth in that time.
Building upon the commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 initially launched by ACI EUROPE in June 2019, ACI has formed this ambitious long-term carbon goal to encourage further action and support the decarbonization efforts of airports as they respond to the climate challenge.
Luis Felipe de Oliveira Director General ACI World
“The climate crisis requires bold action at the local, regional and global level and the goal we have set for airport members will help to drive action and identify common challenges and opportunities that can be tackled together. We set out to work with all ACI Regions and our membership globally to establish a net-zero goal at a global level that airports can commit to reaching, and we urge governments to provide the necessary support for this crucial endeavor. The sustainability of the whole aviation sector is crucial for the present and future of the industry, it is our passport to a return to growth, and the industry has invested billions in measures and practices which have made significant progress in reducing its environmental impact. Through a combination of new technology, operational efficiencies, and infrastructure improvements, more than 10 billion tons of CO2 have been averted by the industry since 1990, but we must build on this and accelerate our collective efforts to decarbonize.”
“Airports cannot do this alone, however, and this is just the first step. If they are to realize this ambitious target, they must work closely with the wider aviation community and count on the support of governments and key stakeholders to address, minimize and mitigate the environmental impacts of continued aviation growth over the long term,” Mr. Oliveira added.
Airports are an important element of the climate change response, but ACI recognizes that each airport, country, and region is unique. Further, the long-term carbon objective is aimed to be adopted by individual airports following local conditions, with the assistance of local governments, on a timeframe that works for them toward net-zero by 2050.
