Airports Council International (ACI) World and the five ACI regions – in collaboration with members – have created a long-term carbon goal for their member airports to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as it ramps up calls to governments to support the set target.
In a statement, ACI – the global trade representative of the world's airport authorities – said its long-term carbon goal relates to the carbon emissions under the direct control of airport operators and will be a crucial component of the aviation industry’s contribution towards this global effort.
“ACI member airports at a global level commit to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and urge governments to provide the necessary support in this endeavor,” it said.
It noted that climate change is a global challenge requiring an urgent global response given the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent call to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Airports have long taken a leadership role in addressing, minimizing, and mitigating the environmental impacts of aviation,” ACI said. “This has been demonstrated through their ability to decrease emissions over the last 10 years, supported and enabled by Airport Carbon Accreditation despite significant traffic growth in that time.”
Critical global response cited
“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,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said.
“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.”
de Oliveira noted that through a combination of new technology, operational efficiencies, and infrastructure improvements, more than ten billion tonnes of CO2 have been averted by the industry since 1990.
“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,” he said.
It noted that ACI EUROPE’s already earlier announced that 235 airports in the region have committed to net-zero by 2050 but also that 91 airports are now set to achieve net-zero by 2030.