Palmerston North Airport (PNAL) has taken another major step in its journey to becoming carbon neutral by achieving Level 2 of the Airport’s Council International Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme.

The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce carbon emissions through 6 levels of certification – Mapping, Reduction, Optimisation, Neutrality, Transformation and Transition.

PNAL Chief Executive, David Lanham says “with the reduction stage now complete, the focus moves to optimisation and neutrality”. 

“We are committed to doing all we can to minimise our impact on the environment by reducing company owned or controlled carbon emissions and energy consumption. This can only be achieved through long term planning, with a focus on continual improvement to achieve these aims.”

Director General ACI Asia-Pacific, Stefano Baronci is heartened by the efforts of PNAL to manage and reduce carbon emissions, earmarked by the recent upgrade to Level 2 Reduction in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.

“We applaud their commitment and intention to go through all six levels of accreditation with the ultimate aim of achieving carbon neutrality.  Despite the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the industry at large, the leadership and investment exemplified by PNAL in its sustainability journey is well-worth noting,” he says.

PNAL has also announced its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2035 through the setting of a science-based emission reduction target.

PNAL carbon reduction initiatives include the installation of LED lighting in the terminal and in apron areas, the partial installation of an energy efficient HVAC system, and most recently the commencement of the introduction of hybrid vehicles into the airport’s fleet. The next major steps forward involve the completion of the HVAC install resulting in the decommissioning of the terminal’s aging and energy intensive natural gas-powered boiler system, and the selection of a third-party tenant with whom PNAL intends to collaborate with to achieve further carbon emission reductions.

In addition to carbon reduction this year alone, PNAL diverted 71% of its waste to landfill and the company continues to review opportunities to reduce water consumption.