Thursday 10 December 2015

Airports sign partnership to cut emissions

A partnership to cut emissions from airports has been launched at COP21. 

It was signed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Airports Council International (ACI).

It aims take the industry towards climate neutrality with energy efficient lighting, cooling and heating systems. It will also use solar energy and climate-friendly ground transportation.

ACI will support the UNFCCC’s 'Climate Neutral Now' initiative and the UNFCCC secretariat will support airport carbon accreditation - which consists of airports measuring, reporting and cutting their emissions.

The organisations will develop a common work programme and communications plan promoting carbon neutrality.

UNFCCC will join the advisory board of the 'Airport Carbon Accreditation' programme, which aims to increase the number of airports graduating to carbon neutral status.

John Kilani, Director, Sustainable Development Mechanisms programme,  said: “It is immensely encouraging to see an industry as visible and strategically relevant as the airport industry being so proactive on climate action.

“What ACI has achieved through airport carbon accreditation over the past six years is inspiring – to mobilise 137 airports in the journey towards carbon neutrality is an example that many other industries could learn from.”

A draft of the possible agreement for tackling climate change has been released.