Malaysian Airports To Go Carbon Neutral By 2020

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) recently announced that it has set a goal of making its international airports carbon-neutral by 2020.

The company operates five international airports in Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kuching International Airport, Langkawi International Airport and Penang International Airport.

Earlier this year, MAHB released its first-ever annual sustainability report for 2009. The report was unveiled at the KL Convention Centre, venue of the International Green Tech and Eco Product Exhibition & Conference Malaysia.

The sustainability report was compiled using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard reporting guidelines, currently considered to be the global standard for triple bottom line reporting.

Information about specific tactics MAHB will use for reducing and offsetting emissions has yet to be revealed.

Although aviation is responsible for an estimated 2 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, there is a growing interest in reducing the impact both planes and airports.

British Airways has unveiled plans to establish what it believes will be Europe’s first ‘sustainable’ jet fuel plant, and Denver International Airport has installed three large solar panel arrays, making it the largest photovoltaic energy producer in the state of Colorado.

International airports in Sweden, Canada, and New Zealand have already achieved carbon-neutral certification, with many more setting aggressive emissions-reduction goals for the next decade.

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Image Credit: Flickr - planegeezer

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Sonny H.

6:53AM PST on Dec 20, 2010

The sooner the better for all of us!

send a green star

Barbara E.

11:36PM PST on Dec 14, 2010

Interesting

Doug G.

10:06AM PST on Nov 27, 2010

Reducing carbon emissions from airports is a good thing, however, it is a small part of the overall impact of air travel. We still need to reduce air travel and move to non-fossil jet fuels. Don't forget to buy high quality carbon offsets if you must fly, and consider less carbon-intensive options than flying.

Klaus P.

4:18AM PST on Nov 15, 2010

Sure,it is not a giant step, but many little steps will make a giant step forward to help us reduce our carbon footprint.

gerlinde p.

10:22PM PDT on Nov 5, 2010

good for them

Nuno C.

10:55AM PDT on Nov 5, 2010

Very good news!
Someone has realized that without nature's balance, money won't solve anything.

Grace A.

3:55AM PDT on Nov 5, 2010

Making the airports carbon neutral is a good thing, but HOW can they make the planes carbon neutral. Or is it a matter of generating enough sustainable energy electricity at or near the airport to make up for the planes' emissions?

KS G.

12:34AM PDT on Nov 5, 2010

Thanks for the article.

Monica D.

6:09PM PDT on Nov 4, 2010

I am not sure that carbon offsets are enough. What we really need is to reduce the total rate of CO2-equivalent emissions. We can drive and fly less, to help achieve this. Holiday locally instead - it can be amazing what is in your own local area!

Rose N.

4:44PM PDT on Nov 4, 2010

Cool! Hopefully this works out. Thank you for posting.