Brisbane Airport awarded for sustainability leadership by ACI

Brisbane Airport is awarded for its efforts in sustainabilty by ACI.

The Airport Council International (ACI) has recognised the great leadership Brisbane Airport (BNE) has demonstrated in sustainability and has awarded the Australian airport a Level 4 Airport Carbon Accreditation. This accreditation recognises BNE’s long-term carbon management strategy – a strategy that aims to reduce emissions and develop meaningful partnerships with other airlines to help them do the same. 

“Given Australia’s reliance on air travel to connect to the rest of the world, partnering with all parts of the aviation sector to decarbonise the industry is essential to protecting the natural heritage that Queensland is world-renowned for,” says Gert-Jan de Graaff, CEO of Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC).

“We are playing an active role in enabling the airport community and aviation sector to decarbonise. Queensland is well placed to be part of the Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) revolution and design of next generation aircraft.” 

Brisbane Airport is only the 10^th airport in Asia-Pacific to reach Level 4 or above carbon accreditation status. Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific recognised BAC’s leadership and said the following: “we are proud of Brisbane Airport’s excellent achievement in reducing carbon emissions and setting an example for airports in the region. Brisbane Airport is firmly positioning itself as one of the leaders in efficient carbon management and this achievement truly demonstrates its firm commitment to invest in a more sustainable future. It’s encouraging to see airports making tremendous efforts to adapt to the impact of climate change and enhance climate-resilience in an era of unprecedented challenges for the industry.”  

Sustainability Timeline  

2010: 285-hectare Biodiversity Zone established, representing 10% of landmass.  

2014: Australia’s first Green Star Communities rating.  

2016: Achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3: Optimisation. 

2018: Launch of Queensland’s first and Australia’s largest electric bus fleet at the time.  

2019: Installation of 18,000 solar panels across airport.   

2021: Trial of artificial intelligence to reduce energy consumption in buildings with 12% reduction in energy use.  

2022: Acceleration of net zero target by 25 years to 2025.  

2022: Australia’s first all-electric refueller deployed to BNE by Air BP.  

2022: First Australian airport to introduce Oscar AI bin smart recycling assistant into terminals. 

2022: Start of transition to electric commercial mower fleet. 

2022: BAC’s commitment to build another five-megawatts of solar capacity by 2025. 

2022: Announcement of renewable energy deal with Stanwell. 

2023: Achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 4: Transformation. 

Brisbane Airport is Australia’s key Asia-Pacific Gateway, a hub with links to one of the world’s most exciting and growing regions. It is also Australia’s most connected domestic hub, with services to 53 destinations around the country. To find out more about Brisbane Airport’s sustainability strategy visit bne.com.au/sustainability. 

Airport Carbon Accreditation is the only institutionally endorsed, global carbon management certification program for airports. It independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions through six levels of certification.  For more information visit airportcarbonaccreditation.org