Airports Council International (ACI) World has launched comprehensive guidance to help airport executives incorporate sustainability at the core of their strategies as they work towards long-term recovery.
The ACI World Sustainable Recovery Best Practice highlights the advantages of incorporating sustainability in post-pandemic recovery plans including access to funding through government relief packages and sustainability-linked bonds, as well as further developing a more balanced business model that incorporates social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
The publication provides a table of best practices and examples of action under three pillars of sustainability and governance to guide airports worldwide in developing their own sustainable recovery plans. A step-by-step approach to building such a plan is also included.
ACI World director general Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: “As the industry seeks to ‘build back better,’ airports have been recognising the advantages of a sustainability-centric recovery strategy. While health and evolving passenger expectations remain central to airports and the industry’s sustained recovery, climate change and other related externalities remain the major risk we face as a sector and as humanity.
“We believe that aviation’s role in serving a post-pandemic, decarbonising global society and economy is critical, but continued efforts will require support from government and other stakeholders. Aviation and non-aviation players will need to further collaborate to identify solutions that realise the positive transformation that sustainability can bring to the sector, the overall economy, and in achieving each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
In June 2021, ACI member airports at the global level committed to net zero carbon by 2050. To date, 352 airports have been accredited under the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, the only institutionally endorsed, carbon management certification standard for airports.
As a companion to the Best Practice guidance, the ACI World Sustainable Recovery Case Studies provides successful examples from six airports under the three pillars of sustainability. The case studies highlight sustainable alternatives for airports to consider while they plan for recovery in the short-, medium-, and long-term.
