Sweden, one of the most advanced countries in the world, is expected to share its cutting-edge technologies and know-how with Qatar to help transform Hamad International Airport (HIA) into one of the world's few “carbon emissions neutral” airports, said a senior diplomat from the Scandinavian nation.
Carbon neutrality is the highest level of certification that requires having a net zero carbon emissions footprint of airports. This can be achieved by offsetting carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emissions into the atmosphere through an infinite combination of measures, including using innovative environment-friendly technologies, tapping solar energy and developing more green area.
Qatar, which hosted the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP18) in 2012, is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting green and environment-friendly technologies aggressively through various ways, such as promoting green buildings and several other emissions reduction initiatives in line with its National Vision 2030. And Qatar Airways, as one of the world’s leading airlines, is committed to establishing a sustainable aviation industry.
“We have a very interesting concept to share with Qatar. Our Stockholm Arlanda Airport was the first ‘carbon neutral’ airport in the world way back in 2009. The same can be implemented at HIA. I have already discussed this with the Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker,” said Ewa Polano (pictured), Ambassador of Sweden to Qatar.
Polano added: “We have offered a proposal to have the first carbon emissions neutral airport outside of Europe. That can be done with our technology in collaboration with the newly established company by Qatar Airways Group.”
The “carbon neutrality” is the highest level of certification awarded to airports under Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme. It assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions with four levels of award, namely: 'Mapping', 'Reduction', 'Optimisation' and 'Neutrality'. The programme was launched in 2009 by European airports' trade body Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE).
Currently, Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport are ACI certified in the Middle East but they are not fully carbon neutral.
The HIA has ambitious plans to achieve the higher accreditation levels and become a world-leading airport in climate change management. The state-of-the art airport is unique in having its carbon emissions certified under the programme since it started operations in April 2014.
According to annual carbon footprint report, the airport has already achieved over 4 percent improvement in carbon emissions per passenger in 2015 compared to 2014, with the ambition to reduce the 2015 baseline of 5.6kgs CO2 per passenger to fewer than 4.0kgs by 2030.
Notably, in January this year, HIA entered the elite category of global airports becoming the sixth airport in the world to receive the ‘5-Star Airport’ designation by Skytrax, the London-based aviation institute, an internationally reputable rating agency of airports and airlines.
This makes HIA the first ever airport in the Middle East to earn this acclaimed title.
