New Delhi: Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi became the fifth airport in the Asia-Pacific region to receive accreditation for its efforts in managing and reducing carbon emissions.
A global body of airports, Airport Council International (ACI), has accredited the IGI airport at Level 2 – ‘Reduction’ under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.
IGI Airport in New Delhi. Reuters
The IGI airport, operated by GMR-led consortium Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), has become the second airport in India after Bangalore International Airport to be accredited at this level, a statement from ACI (Asia-Pacific) said.
Airport Carbon Accreditation is an institutionally endorsed programme that independently assesses and recognises airports’ efforts to manage and reduce their carbon emissions.
The participating airports can be certified at four progressive levels of accreditation — ‘Mapping’, ‘Reduction’, ‘Optimisation’, and ‘Neutrality’.
“DIAL is proud to achieve this coveted recognition. Having successfully accredited for ‘Mapping’ and ‘Reduction’, DIAL is now aiming for the third level of ‘Optimisation’ with the support of all concerned stakeholders. This signifies our airport-wide effort to tackle the global challenge of climate change and our commitment to reduction of carbon emissions,” I Prabhakara Rao, CEO DIAL said.
Prior to IGI airport, Abu Dhabi International airport, Changi airport at Singapore and Mumbai International airport have been accredited at ‘Mapping’ level, while Bangalore International Airport at Level 2 ‘Reduction’.
Speaking on the occasion, Patti Chau, regional director of ACI Asia-Pacific said, “I wish to congratulate IGI airport on having its carbon reduction achievement recognised by Airport Carbon Accreditation. It has once again shown that airports in our region are not only committed to but have already taken action to reduce their environmental impact.”
She said that it was encouraging that in only seven months since Airport Carbon Accreditation was extended from Europe to Asia-Pacific, five airports in the region have already been accredited.
“This is solid proof that airports generally recognise the programme to be an effective tool to manage and reduce carbon emissions. I strongly encourage more members to act now and become accredited,” she said in the statement.
Airport Carbon Accreditation was first launched by ACI Europe in 2009. In November 2011, the programme received support from ICAO and was extended to the Asia-Pacific region.
PTI
