Carbon Neutrality

In February 2020 we succeeded in our first step towards carbon neutrality, gaining Level 1 of the internationally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.

In January 2021, we gained Level 2 ACA certification recognising Hawke’s Bay Airport’s commitment to emission reduction, climate change mitigation and sustainable development.  Level 2 requires the airport to show that it has made meaningful change in its carbon emissions and since 2018 HBAL has reduced its average emissions per passenger by 12%. 

Achieving Level 3 (out of six levels) requires us to look beyond our own operations, so the next phase will see us work with our partners, such as tenants and contractors, to help bring their emissions down.  We will also be looking to key partners in our community to collaborate on some larger-scale projects.

ABOUT Airport Carbon Accreditation

ACI launched the Airport Carbon Accreditation in 2009 after member airports adopted a landmark resolution on Climate Change to reduce carbon emissions from their operations with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Airport Carbon Accreditation is an independent, voluntary programme administered by WSP, an international consultancy appointed by ACI EUROPE to enforce the accreditation criteria for airports on an annual basis.

Airports applying to become accredited must have their carbon footprints independently verified in accordance with ISO14064 (Greenhouse Gas Accounting). Evidence of this must be provided to the programme administrator (WSP) together with all claims regarding carbon management processes which must also be independently verified.

The definitions of emissions footprints used by Airport Carbon Accreditation follow the principles of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) “Greenhouse Gas Protocol” Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. When considering the emissions from aircraft within the airport perimeter and on final approach and initial departure, Airport Carbon Accreditation uses the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) definition of the Landing-Take Off cycle and requires airports to comply with these definitions.