‘Airports of tomorrow’ critical for achieving net-zero carbon emission goals

Airports being nuclei of economic activity assume a significant role in the national economy. The quality of airport infrastructure, which is a vital component of the overall transportation network, contributes directly to a country's international competitiveness and the flow of foreign investment. While cargo carried by air in India weighs less than one per cent of the total cargo that is exported, it accounts for 35% of the total value of exports. Better cargo handling facilities lead to enhanced levels of importation, especially of capital goods and high-value items. Likewise, 97% of the country's foreign tourists arrive by air making tourism the nation's second largest foreign exchange earner. ‘Airports of Tomorrow’ will bring public and private stakeholders together to drive unprecedented collaboration and change in the sector, maximizing the potential for airports to be vehicles for economic growth and environmental stewardship. The initiative is built on four pillars – Infrastructure, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Finance, and Innovation – that will each see exchange of expertise and knowledge sharing, development of tools and guidance, and advancement of advocacy. Airports are at the heart of the decarbonisation challenge and to provide solutions. Being complex infrastructures, they rely on intertwined interdependencies among stakeholders. Airport-controlled activities account for ∼3% of the aviation industry’s total emissions. It is for this reason that airports are now rethinking on redesigned infrastructures in order to reduce their overall environmental footprint, while, correspondingly, increasing their positive economic impact.

The concept of airports as energy hubs refers to building a unique airport ecosystem that places renewable energy production at the centre of its operations to decarbonise all airport-related activities in their proximity. As this will require significant time and investment, we outline the five areas in which some airports can start embracing this transition: Airports have been leaders in the decarbonization transformation, with ACI being the first global aviation organization to commit to a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 for airports, made on 8 June 2021. This was followed by the cross-industry commitment in October 2021 and by the ICAO States in October 2022. Airports are also economic poles where businesses establish, where the economy prospers and where people live. Their development as energy hubs could underpin opportunities for economic growth and diversification, green jobs creation and industrialisation and educational opportunities around these green energy sectors. Airports can also help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and industrial sites in their surroundings to decarbonise, as these companies would likely struggle to fund a transition to hydrogen or equivalent technology on their own; but with an airport leading the way, others could take up the opportunity.

Collaborations across aviation stakeholders like the states, regulators, fuel producers, and the financial sector, are crucial for attaining the net zero carbon emission by 2050. Decarbonization is a critical global issue that requires a global approach. With support from governments and collaboration of stakeholders along the aviation ecosystem, including energy producers, policymakers and the finance community, can together make a success story of the net-zero airport transformation, while also enhancing a resilient future for the ‘Airports of tomorrow’.