Thursday, October 3, 2024 Christchurch Airport has set a new benchmark in sustainability, becoming the first airport in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions to achieve Level 5 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme. This prestigious recognition reflects the airport’s unwavering commitment to reducing carbon emissions through forward-thinking strategies and cutting-edge initiatives. Ms.
Claire Waghorn, Sustainability Transition Leader at Christchurch Airport, shared insights into the journey that led to this achievement. “Our sustainability journey started in 2006 when we began monitoring our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” she explained. “Realizing the impact of aviation on the climate, we decided to take decisive steps, which culminated in the creation of our Green Transition Plan.
” In 2017, Christchurch Airport entered the ACA programme at Level 2 and steadily advanced, becoming the first airport globally to reach Level 4 by 2020. “By 2021, we had reduced our emissions by 90%, shifting our focus to working with airline and supply chain partners,” Waghorn said. The airport’s recent achievement of Level 5 was celebrated at COP28 in Dubai, marking another key milestone.
Key to the airport’s success has been several innovative projects, including the creation of a 400-hectare renewable energy precinct that supports large-scale solar energy production and infrastructure for low-emission aircraft. One of the most impactful projects was the inst.
