AIG conducts Environment, Social, Health and Safety Committee quarterly meeting

AMMAN — Airport International Group (AIG) held its Environment, Social, Health and Safety (ESHS) Committee meeting on Wednesday.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport Wesam Tahtamouni, Madaba Mayor Aref Rawajeeh and representatives from the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC), Civil Defence Directorate and companies working at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) attended the meeting chaired by AIG CEO, Nicolas claude.

The meeting addressed several relevant topics, with a particular emphasis on QAIA’s carbon management and accreditation, according to an AIG statement.

On this front, QAIA was the first carbon-neutral airport in the region, as well as the first in the Middle East and second in Asia Pacific to reach the highest level of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Programme (4+ “Transition”) — with future plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the statement said.

Between 2012 and 2021, AIG successfully reduced its overall carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 25 per cent, with a special focus on energy conservation, which constitutes nearly 92 per cent of overall emission sources, the statement said.

Together with major stakeholders and concerned authorities, the ESHS Committee also tackles waste management, environmental accidents, hydrocarbon spills and soil and groundwater pollution, among others,  emphasising AIG’s “unwavering dedication to fostering a de-carbonised, climate-friendly QAIA that cares about its surrounding environment and local communities”, read the statement.

“Today, we commemorate QAIA achieving the highest level of the ACA programme, demonstrating the diligent efforts of airport management in implementing multiple initiatives aimed to curb carbon emissions, despite the challenges faced during recent years. To overcome obstacles and find suitable solutions, we require enhanced coordination between the public and private sectors,” stated Tahtamouni.

Claude said: “For more than 10 years, Airport International Group has been consistently taking active measures to reduce its carbon footprint and protect the environment to position QAIA as a sustainable airport. In acknowledgment of these efforts, we have received multiple international recognitions and accolades over the years from prestigious industry organisations, such as Airports Council International World, which represents the collective interests of airports across the globe.” 

“During this meeting, we outlined a roadmap for transforming QAIA into a net-zero airport by 2050 in collaboration with our partners — including the airlines and companies operating at QAIA — as well as the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Environment, CARC, Madaba and Al Jizah municipalities and various government and local entities, whom we sincerely thank for their steadfast support and ongoing cooperation,”  Claude added.