ACI EUROPE welcomes global airport industry long-term carbon goal

8 June 2021

Brussels, 8 June 2021: ACI EUROPE welcomes and fully supports the global airport industry’s commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, launched today by ACI World and all ACI Regions - ACI Africa, ACI Asia Pacific, ACI EUROPE, ACI Latin America & Caribbean and ACI North America1.

Today’s announcement builds on and complements the commitment of Europe’s airports to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest, which ACI EUROPE federated and launched in June 20192. This commitment has since then been undersigned by 238 European airports3, which individually commit to the same goal. The latest airport operators joining the commitment are Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Belgium, IGA Istanbul Airport in Turkey and Prague Airport in the Czech Republic.

Airports have long taken a leadership role in addressing, minimising, and mitigating the environmental impacts of aviation. This has been demonstrated through their ability to decrease emissions over the last 10 years, supported and enabled by Airport Carbon Accreditation - despite significant traffic growth in that time.

ACI World and the ACI Regions have now committed to this ambitious long-term carbon goal to drive further action and further support the decarbonisation efforts of airports across the planet, as they respond to the climate challenge.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE said: “Europe has been the launching pad of the airport industry’s climate ambitions. This is where Airport Carbon Accreditation started and where airports first pledged to align with the Paris Agreement. But from very early on, we have worked hard together with ACI World and the other ACI Regions to jointly drive airport climate action across the globe. Today’s announcement of a net zero CO2 commitment for the airport industry globally is the result of those collective endeavours – and I am delighted that our industry is now fully aligned and committed in the race to net zero. The climate emergency needs global action – from all regions, sectors and individuals.”

He added: “The commitment and focus of European airports on their own decarbonisation programmes remains rock solid – despite the extremely difficult times we are going through. This is evident with new airports joining the ACI EUROPE Resolution committing the European airport industry to net zero carbon emissions. I would like to commend each of the 238 airports that have individually committed to this goal and warmly welcome the latest three signatories – Brussels South Charleroi, Istanbul and Prague airports.”

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  • Note to editors

    Learn more about ACI World’s Long Term Carbon Goal Study

    26 June 2019 - Europe's airport industry commits to net zero CO2 emissions by 2050

    3View all the signatories of the ACI EUROPE Resolution here.

     

    For more information, contact:

    Siobhan O’Donnell

    Acting Director, Media & Communications

    Tel: +353 01 814 4018

    Cell: +353872710065

    Email: siobhan.odonnell@daa.ie 

    ACI EUROPE is the European region of Airports Council International (ACI), the only worldwide professional association of airport operators. ACI EUROPE represents over 500 airports in 55 countries. Our members facilitate over 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe. Air transport supports 13.5 million jobs, generating €886 billion in European economic activity (4.4% of GDP). In response to the Climate Emergency, in June 2019 our members committed to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions for operations under their control by 2050, without offsetting.