Airport Carbon
Accreditation is adapted in June 2008, annual meeting of ACI (Airports Council International)
Europe, carbon management certification standard for airports and launched at
the 2009. In November 2011, Airport Carbon Accreditation was extended to
Asia-Pacific, in cooperation with ACI Asia-Pacific.
The program
independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and
reduce their carbon emissions with four levels of award: 'Mapping',
'Reduction', 'Optimisation' & 'Neutrality'. According to a report by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001), aviation contributes to 2% of
global manmade CO₂ emissions. It is estimated that airport activities
account for up to 5% of total aviation emissions. Along with other aviation
industry stakeholders, airports are seeking to address the challenge of climate
change and have developed a wide range of activities to reduce carbon emissions
linked to airport operations. These emissions are mainly stemming from energy
use in airport buildings and infrastructure, transport to/from airports,
airside vehicles, aircraft ground movements and energy consumption and
refrigerants.
Since the 1970’s airports have been carrying out environmental management programmes dealing with monitoring air quality, water management, noise mitigation and biodiversity management. Now, in the context of climate change, different initiatives are underway to help lower carbon dioxide emissions at the airport. The first step of ACA is to determine emissions sources within the operational boundary of the airport company. Calculate the annual carbon emissions. Compile a carbon footprint report. Engage an independent third-party to verify the carbon footprint report.
The second step is to provide
evidence of effective carbon management procedures. This step is to show that
reduction targets have been achieved. The management procedure has a low
carbon/low energy policy along with a senior committee or body has
responsibility for climate change/carbon/energy matters. The procedure show how
it communicates emissions performance to relevant stakeholders. And
stakeholders can monitor consumption of fuel & energy.
ACI Asia-Pacific is the Asia-Pacific region of
Airports Council International and has 96 members operating over 510 airports
in 42 countries. In 2010, airports in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions
handled 1.5 billion passengers, 37.7 million tonnes of cargo and 13.6 million
aircraft movemen