Climate change
Corporate sustainability is often measured on climate change, an issue that is pivotal to the aviation and tourism sectors, of which Auckland Airport is a crucial part.
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has calculated that aviation's total carbon dioxide emissions account for 3% of the impact of all global emissions on climate change. Of that figure, airport operations only account for up to 5%.
Auckland Airport produced its first company emissions profile for the 2006 financial year. A review of the data capture process and calculation methodology has allowed us to improve the accuracy of our emissions profile over time. We now know our climate change impact and the potential increase in operating costs when the cost of carbon is introduced into the economy.
Auckland Airport emissions profile financial years 2006 to 2008 can be seen in the table below:
|
FY06 (CO2e*) Tonnes |
FY07 (CO2e) Tonnes |
FY08 (CO2e) Tonnes |
FY09 (CO2e) Tonnes |
Natural gas |
1,025 |
1,752 |
1,846 |
2,307 |
Petrol 91 |
218 |
207 |
192 |
138 |
Petrol 96 |
44 |
42 |
29 |
13 |
Diesel |
320 |
314 |
294 |
272 |
Avgas |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Jet A1 |
77 |
48 |
77 |
105 |
Electricity |
6,555 |
6,585 |
6,833 |
6,179 |
Air travel short haul <500km |
41 |
24 |
24 |
11 |
Air travel medium haul 501-1,600km |
1 |
8 |
12 |
3 |
Air travel long haul >1,600km |
130 |
73 |
78 |
59 |
Construction |
2,240 |
1,903 |
1,922 |
2,641 |
Total |
10,654 |
10,958 |
11,306 |
11,727 |
*CO2e = carbon dioxide equivalent
Our reported emissions profile has to be adjusted when new emission measurement factors are released by the New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development. This is particularly true of our biggest source of emissions, which are indirect emissions, associated with the use of electricity.
We have also estimated emissions from construction projects, including embodied emissions in construction materials and emissions from fuel usage.
Airport Council International (ACI) declaration on climate change
In April 2008, Auckland Airport, along with over 300 other airports around the world, signed the ACI declaration on climate change at an aviation and environment summit in Geneva. The declaration reflects Auckland Airport's commitment to working with the broader aviation industry towards the vision of carbon neutrality.
Carbon emissions profile
The graph below shows where our carbon emissions came from between 1st July 2008 and 30th June 2009, and includes all energy and fuel use, staff air travel and embodied emissions in materials like concrete used in construction projects, such as the international terminal expansions, and fuel used (diesel) on the earthworks for the northern runway development.
Emissions reduction plan
In 2008 Auckland Airport, as part of its drive towards more sustainable business practice, produced an emissions reduction plan. This recommended a detailed energy audit to look at ways of reducing electricity and gas usage in particular.
The audit will be completed by the end of calendar year 2009 and recommendations implemented through the company's energy conservation group.