20 March 2018
Sunshine Coast Airport’s commitment to sustainability has once again been recognised with the renewal of its carbon neutral status under the Airport Carbon Accreditation program this week.
Renewal of the Level 3+ Neutrality accreditation reconfirms Sunshine Coast Airport as the first and only Australian airport to achieve and retain status at the top level of the program.
Airport CEO Peter Pallot said the Airports Council International program recognises airports around the globe for managing their carbon emissions and reducing carbon footprints.
“Recognising the importance of sustainable practices, Sunshine Coast Airport was one of the very first Australian airports to join the Airport Carbon Accreditation program in 2012, and we are delighted by the number of Australian airports now participating in the program,” Mr Pallot said.
“By adopting an innovative and holistic approach to reducing our carbon footprint we were able to achieve carbon neutrality status in March 2017.
“It is a credit to the entire airport team that we not only reached the highest level of the program, but one year on we remain the only airport in Australia at this level.
“We have worked hard to make Sunshine Coast Airport the most sustainable airport in the country and we are incredibly proud of our achievements under the program.”
Airport Carbon Accreditation is a program of Airports Council International (ACI) and is the only institutionally-endorsed carbon management certification program for airports. The program is the only airport specific carbon standard which relies on internationally recognised methodologies.
Airport Carbon Accreditation was introduced into the Asia-Pacific region in November 2011, in partnership with ACI Europe and with the support of ACI World.
To date, only 37 airports worldwide and five airports in the Asia Pacific region, including Sunshine Coast Airport, have been accredited at Level 3+ Neutrality.
Regional Director of ACI Asia-Pacific Patti Chau congratulated everyone whose efforts contributed to the airport’s achievements.
“Sunshine Coast Airport was the first carbon neutral airport in Australia and I am glad to see the airport’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and maintaining its carbon neutral accreditation,” Ms Chau said.
ENDS
Media contact:
Jackie Schmidt, Media & Communications
T: 0430 379 759 E: [email protected]
BACKGROUND:
Since mapping its carbon usage in 2013, Sunshine Coast Airport has continued to work on its carbon footprint reduction program through a series of low energy initiatives including investments in low energy lightning and air conditioning, the implementation of waste reduction and recycling programs, the use of water sensitive urban design, water usage reduction and water harvesting.
To date the airport initiatives have delivered:
- 24% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions
- 11% reduction in waste to landfill per passengers
- 50% reduction in lighting energy requirements
- 9% reduction in electricity consumption per passenger
- 15% reduction in water consumption
