Airports association ACI Europe has unveiled an updated sustainability strategy that focuses on a “broader range” of environmental, social and economic (ESG) considerations beyond just carbon reduction.
ACI Europe said that while decarbonisation of airport operations “remains at the core” of the refreshed strategy, it also gives more priority to issues such as climate adaptation, biodiversity, sustainable mobility, accessibility and community engagement.
The association’s Sustainability Strategy for Airports 2.0 was published at this week’s Environmental Protection Seminar, held jointly by ACI Europe and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It follows on from ACI Europe’s first Sustainability Strategy released in 2019.
Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI Europe, said the new strategy aimed to help “future proof” the airport sector and reflected a move “from commitment to action” by the association’s members.
“European airports have come a long way since we launched our first Sustainability Strategy in 2019,” said Jankovec. “Decarbonisation has moved from commitment to delivery, with hundreds of airports now working towards net zero and investing in cleaner energy and infrastructure.”
ACI Europe said that 328 European airports now had announced public net zero roadmaps, which covers around 83 per cent of the continent’s passenger traffic. This includes more than 100 airports targeting net zero by 2030 or earlier.
“But true sustainability means much more than just addressing carbon,” argued Jankovec. “Airports are critical infrastructure, major employers and integral parts of the communities they serve.
“Their long-term resilience and competitiveness increasingly depend on how effectively they adapt to climate change, manage resources, protect nature, improve accessibility and maintain the trust of their people and communities.”
The updated strategy provides a range of “practical tools” designed to help airports to “decide where they need to go next and embed sustainability into the decisions they make every day”.
The guidance covers seven key sustainability areas for airports: decarbonisation and energy transition; climate adaptation and resilience; local environmental quality and community impacts; circular economy and resource management; biodiversity, land use and airside ecology; sustainable mobility and accessibility; and people and community.