Istanbul Airport has joined the “Net Zero CO2 Emissions” commitment by the Airports Council International (ACI) by 2050, which includes 238 airports.
According to the statement made by Istanbul Airport Operation IGA, IGA continues to work in line with the principles of sustainable development.
Taking action to leave a cleaner world to young people, IGA announced that Istanbul Airport has committed to zero emissions until 2050 at the latest.
“ACI Net Zero 2050”, first launched by ACI in June 2019, was created with the goal of taking action and decarbonizing airports against the climate problem. As a result of its efforts to manage and reduce its carbon footprints within the scope of its environment and sustainability program, Istanbul Airport has been included among the 238 airports that have committed to “Net Zero CO2 emissions”.
Within the scope of efforts to reduce carbon emissions at Istanbul Airport, ISO 50001 Energy Management System installation, energy efficiency activities, system improvements with energy audits, greenhouse gas calculations with ISO 14064 Greenhouse Gas Management System, afforestation studies, electric vehicle use and vehicle charging station installation were carried out.
Istanbul Airport, which will continue its work on the zero-emission target until 2050, will carry out Solar Power Plant installations, purchase of renewable energy from the electricity grid, electric vehicle conversions and vehicle charging station installations, use of biodiesel in heavy vehicles, energy efficiency activities, afforestation works and use hydrogen fuel for heating and transportation purposes and to make carbon capture technologies from flue gas in line with technological developments.
“OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO RISE THE BAR HIGHER”
Kadri Samsunlu, Chairman of the Executive Board and General Manager of IGA Airport Operations, whose views were included in the statement, stated that as İGA, they are aware that they have an important responsibility towards future generations.
Emphasizing that they took action for a cleaner world by acting with this sense of responsibility, Samsunlu said:
“We have prepared our ‘Net Zero CO2 Emission’ roadmap until 2050 at Istanbul Airport, Turkey’s gateway to the world, and we have created our carbon emission reduction strategy by making an aggressive planning in this direction. Thus, we have been involved in a process where both technological and operational requirements are constantly monitored and evaluated. By implementing many of our projects already, we will have achieved our zero emission targets long before 2050. In the short term, we have realized energy efficiency activities, energy audits and system improvements, electric vehicle usage and vehicle charging station installations and we will continue to do so in the next 2-3 years. In the long term, we will supply the majority of our electrical energy needs from renewable sources through the installation of Solar Power Plants and Green Energy purchases. We believe that our afforestation activities will also become a significant carbon emission sink. We will also evaluate emission reduction opportunities by following the developing technologies, the use of biodiesel in heavy vehicles, the use of hydrogen fuel for heating and transportation, and the technologies of carbon capture from flue gas. As IGA, our biggest goal is to raise the bar even higher in line with our goals.”
“AIRPORTS CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE CLIMATE ACTIVITIES”
Olivier Jankovec, General Director of ACI EUROPE, congratulated Istanbul Airport for its participation in the collective agreement formed with airports across Europe and the world in order to reach the “Net Zero CO2” emission value by 2050.
Jankovec stated that airports continue to prioritize climate activities despite the serious challenges faced by the industry due to the Covid-19 crisis, and this statement is proof of this. “Advancing the climate agenda by aligning decarbonization efforts with global targets will not be an easy process for any industry, as well as for industries that have suffered from this crisis, whose recovery will take years. We have significant work ahead of us, and I would like to thank the Istanbul Airport team, who are always willing to do their best by focusing on the ambitious net-zero target.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz