Stemming from its continuous efforts to improve its overall environmental efficiency, Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has succeeded in completing the third level of Airport Carbon Accreditation, making it the first airport in the Middle East to do so. The Airport was officially awarded with the ‘Optimization’ level of accreditation at the 11th Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Australia, during which a number of international airports were recognized for their achievements in carbon reduction under the Airport Carbon Accreditation program, the only institutionally-endorsed carbon management certification.
Through the efforts of Airport International Group (AIG) – the Jordanian company responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of QAIA – the Airport completed the first Airport Carbon Accreditation level, ‘Mapping’, in 2013, under which priority areas for carbon reduction were identified. In 2015, QAIA became the first airport in the Middle East to complete the second level, ‘Reduction’, after developing a broad scale carbon and energy reduction plan. Under the third level, ‘Optimization’, QAIA successfully engaged its stakeholders in its efforts, involving airlines, ground handling agents, fuel service providers, catering agents and other relevant parties in the Airport’s carbon reduction plan, thereby moving together toward a strategic and comprehensive approach to carbon management. According to Airport International Group (AIG), the Airport aims to complete the 3+ level of carbon management accreditation, ‘Neutralization’, in 2018.
"As part of our ongoing efforts to achieve environmental sustainability on all levels, QAIA has made it a priority to prevent pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from airport activities, thereby not only maintaining our commitment toward the local community, but also contributing to the shrinking of Jordan’s overall ecological footprint." said Kjeld Binger, CEO of Airport International Group (AIG). "Our achievement of the third level of this internationally-recognized certification is further testament to the fact that QAIA remains a regional pioneer in the field of carbon reduction. We are determined to press on, advancing to complete higher certification levels and to secure our ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral."
The Airport’s carbon-reduction policies have resulted in a tangible decrease in carbon emissions, with QAIA experiencing an average decrease of 0.79 kilograms per passenger in the three years between 2012 and 2014. Since then, QAIA’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its continuous progress through the Airport Carbon Accreditation program has led to a further carbon reduction, dropping significantly from an average of 3.68 kilograms per passenger in 2014 to 3.59 kilograms per passenger in 2015.
The Airport Carbon Accreditation program was first launched by ACI Europe in 2009 and extended to ACI Asia-Pacific in November 2011, gaining the support of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at that time. Providing a model for corporate leadership and responsible business practice in airport carbon emissions management and reduction, Airport Carbon Accreditation is a certification standard aimed at encouraging airports to tackle climate change through carbon management and developing a common framework for reducing their carbon emissions through measurable goal posts.