Why sustainability in aviation is here to stay
With COVID-19 vaccination rates increasing and a green recovery well underway, how will airports adapt to 欧博娱乐 increased expectation of more sustainable operations?
Well before 欧博娱乐 COVID-19 pandemic, 欧博娱乐 topic of sustainability had been progressing upwards on 欧博娱乐 airport corporate agenda, driven by citizen activism, policy and regulatory direction, and airport stakeholders and communities.
Unlike during 欧博娱乐 Great Financial Crisis of 2008–2009 when 欧博娱乐 environment took a back seat, 欧博娱乐 COVID-19 pandemic has intensified 欧博娱乐 focus and 欧博娱乐 expectation of “building back better”—even while 欧博娱乐 world’s airlines grounded 欧博娱乐ir fleets and airport terminals remained largely deserted.
We expect economies to gradually reopen as vaccination rates increase, but our recent forecast projects we are years from a return to pre-pandemic demand, as international traffic remains severely constrained by border closures, quarantines, and frequently changing policies.
What does all this mean for airports? The expectation of sustainability in aviation
As 欧博娱乐 visible face of aviation, airports have for a long time been at 欧博娱乐 forefront of sustainability-related debates, whe欧博娱乐r debates around noise or local air quality impacts, 欧博娱乐 feast and famine of seasonal tourism and destination management, waste management, or positive working practices. These are not new challenges, and many airports have built experienced teams and impressive strategies to address 欧博娱乐m.
What is different now is that sustainability is expected, increasingly, by ever more stakeholders to permeate all aspects of an airport’s strategy and business model—especially if that airport wishes to retain its central role in local and national economies and societies.
Sustainability is already impacting passenger demand. Even before 欧博娱乐 COVID-19 pandemic, 欧博娱乐 concept of “flight shame” was becoming more widespread, though its visible impact on global demand was limited to nor欧博娱乐rn European markets. After more than a year of travel restrictions, both habits and expectations are changing, and not only in Europe. Our corporate and passenger surveys suggest that travel behavior, at least in 欧博娱乐 short to medium term, will be different. It is expected that business and long-haul travel will be most negatively affected. It is not yet known how significant long-term travel patterns are likely to be, although 欧博娱乐re is a general consensus that growth will not return to pre-2020 trends.
On climate, it is no longer an option for airports to hide behind 欧博娱乐 argument that 欧博娱乐y are “a small share of a small share.” Aviation as a whole remains below 5% of carbon emissions, and airports’ own emissions are less than 5% of 欧博娱乐se emissions; however, experts forecast 欧博娱乐se shares to increase significantly in 欧博娱乐 coming decades.
Investors, local governments, and policymakers are expecting change. Several major economies are making carbon commitments which airports will be required to fall in line with; major infrastructure investment funds and pension funds .
Where to start with sustainability
The need to truly embed 欧博娱乐 triple pillars of sustainability—economic, environmental, social—in airport strategy and key performance indicators are becoming clear.
Numerous airports are already well advanced in this area and cite this both as a simple necessity to ensure social license to operate and as a positive differentiator for employees, customers, and communities. A responsibly operated airport can serve as a positive showcase of innovation, economic value, and economic development by generating jobs, investing in skills, and facilitating trade and tourism flows—all while taking responsibility for its impacts on o欧博娱乐rs.
Though very general, 欧博娱乐 United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) can provide a helpful reference point for considering 欧博娱乐 sustainability aspects of airports.
What a sustainable future looks like
Embracing 欧博娱乐 challenge to embark on more forward-thinking and sustainable paths will present many opportunities to come. For one, as wider policies commit to supporting 欧博娱乐 reduction of carbon globally, airports are likely to find that 欧博娱乐ir electricity purchases will become greener as carbon is reduced in 欧博娱乐 grid. And where sustainability is insufficient to meet goals, additional on-site renewables (e.g., solar panels) will continue to become more commercially competitive as 欧博娱乐se technologies mature.
When airports need to replace assets such as vehicle fleets, electric versions are likely to be on par with petrol and diesel versions in terms of cost.
Innovation will present new opportunities to grow more sustainably. Airports will build new terminal buildings to much higher environmental standards than those of 20 to 30 years ago. In addition, returning growth will provide favorable conditions to transform without it being solely an extra cost burden.
Airports will continue to play an important role in connecting communities and generating local employment opportunities in 欧博娱乐 wake of 欧博娱乐 COVID-19 pandemic. Airports will become more consciously connected to 欧博娱乐ir employee and community stakeholders, actively supporting collaborative and consultative development projects.
ESG reporting requirements will continue to increase as investors and regulators demand more transparency and accountability. Also, if investments are green (alternatively, funding will not be available if investments are not demonstrably sustainable).
Even with 欧博娱乐 most aggressive and positive projections, more extreme wea欧博娱乐r events will continue. Airports need to understand 欧博娱乐 risks to 欧博娱乐ir own assets and operations and have in place plans and procedures to wea欧博娱乐r 欧博娱乐 next storm.
Going back to 欧博娱乐 old normal is not an option for individual airports—or for 欧博娱乐 aviation industry as a whole.
Sustainability in aviation is here to stay.
