Airports Council International (ACI) World and the World Economic Forum have launched the ‘Airports of Tomorrow‘ initiative to help accelerate the decarbonisation of the aviation industry.
This announcement was made to over 800 aviation delegates at the ACI EUROPE / ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Barcelona.
Airports of Tomorrow aims to bring public and private stakeholders together to help drive change in the sector and maximise the economic and environmental potential of airports.
The initiative is built on four pillars: infrastructure, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), finance and innovation.
ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said:The ACI World-World Economic Forum Airports of Tomorrow initiative will help airports transform from passenger hubs into energy hubs. It is an exciting time for airports: the energy transformation presents them with an opportunity to further lead and change the future of aviation for the better.
On 8 June 2021, ACI committed to a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions at airports globally by 2050.
Collaboration across aviation stakeholders including states, regulators, fuel producers, and the financial sector is now considered crucial to achieving this mission.
Lauren Uppink, Head, Climate Strategy, World Economic Forum said:We see airports as strategically located epicentres of activity, where leaders from across the aviation ecosystem can convene and work together to transform the industry. If the right planning and investment decisions are made today, airports can play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future for aviation as well as other transport sectors. The Airports of Tomorrow initiative will help airports harness these opportunities, enabling them to fulfil their potential as clean energy hubs and standard-bearers for the net-zero economy.
