Brussels, 8 June 2021: ACI EUROPE welcomes and fully supports the global airport industry’s commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, launched today by ACI World and all ACI Regions - ACI Africa, ACI Asia Pacific, ACI EUROPE, ACI Latin America & Caribbean and ACI North America¹.

Today’s announcement builds on and complements the commitment of Europe’s airports to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest, which ACI EUROPE federated and launched in June 2019². This commitment has since then been undersigned by 238 European airports³, which individually commit to the same goal. The latest airport operators joining the commitment are Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Belgium, IGA Istanbul Airport in Turkey and Prague Airport in the Czech Republic.

Airports have long taken a leadership role in addressing, minimising, and mitigating the environmental impacts of aviation. This has been demonstrated through their ability to decrease emissions over the last 10 years, supported and enabled by Airport Carbon Accreditation - despite significant traffic growth in that time.

ACI World and the ACI Regions have now committed to this ambitious long-term carbon goal to drive further action and further support the decarbonisation efforts of airports across the planet, as they respond to the climate challenge.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE said: “Europe has been the launching pad of the airport industry’s climate ambitions. This is where Airport Carbon Accreditation started and where airports first pledged to align with the Paris Agreement. But from very early on, we have worked hard together with ACI World and the other ACI Regions to jointly drive airport climate action across the globe. Today’s announcement of a net zero CO₂ commitment for the airport industry globally is the result of those collective endeavours – and I am delighted that our industry is now fully aligned and committed in the race to net zero. The climate emergency needs global action – from all regions, sectors and individuals.”

He added: “The commitment and focus of European airports on their own decarbonisation programmes remains rock solid – despite the extremely difficult times we are going through. This is evident with new airports joining the ACI EUROPE Resolution committing the European airport industry to net zero carbon emissions. I would like to commend each of the 238 airports that have individually committed to this goal and warmly welcome the latest three signatories – Brussels South Charleroi, Istanbul and Prague airports.”