- Guidance provides the first overview of material sustainability topics to help airports build their sustainability strategies
Montreal. 16 November 2021. Airports Council International (ACI) World has launched a comprehensive report to help airport executives with their holistic sustainability strategy as they work towards aligning their local initiatives with common international topics and objectives
The ACI World Sustainability Strategy for Airports Worldwide, which builds on the ACI EUROPE Sustainability Strategies for Airports, provides an overview of how sustainable aviation can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and provides the very first overview of the most relevant and commonly reported material sustainability topics. Based on the rigorous data collection from over 80 airports globally and desktop research, topics covered include service quality, infrastructure development, and safe and efficient operations.
The report also provides case studies that showcase best practices on how airports are implementing social, environmental, and economic sustainability initiatives and embedding them in their overall business strategy and operation. The guidance was made possible with the financial support of Hamad International Airport and developed in collaboration with Tailor Airey and Vancouver International Airport.
“While sustainability is a topic highly influenced by local issues, global issues such as climate change and global trends related to Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting have also emerged,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said. “The finance community is calling for more uniformity and harmonization on the ways stakeholders report on sustainability, including the material topics they choose to report on. Greater consistency in this regard would facilitate secure decision-making by reducing risks related to sustainability credit ratings and the allocation of finance and investment which require sustainability criteria.
“Airports must be ready for the implementation of local initiatives which can be translated at the international level into common sustainability topics and objectives, and we believe the ACI World Sustainability Strategy for Airports Worldwide will help airports in this regard. I would like to thank the airports who have contributed and Hamad International Airport for their financial support.”
Airports have been working on sustainability for decades, and have recently transformed this stewardship into business conditions, strategies, and objectives. In June 2021, ACI member airports at the global level committed to net zero carbon by 2050. Over 350 airports have been accredited under the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation program, the only institutionally endorsed, carbon management certification standard for airports.
Most recently, ACI World released the complementary ACI World Sustainable Recovery Best Practice and the ACI World Sustainable Recovery Case Studies, which helps airports incorporate sustainability in their recovery efforts.
ACI’s recent sustainability initiatives come strategically just ahead of the ACI-LAC/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition to be held in Cancun, Mexico, from 21–24 November 2021. This year’s event will be under the theme “Runway to Recovery: Reconnecting Aviation for a Sustainable Future.”
