Carbon Neutrality

Actively Reducing Emissions

Christchurch Airport believes it is essential that positive steps are taken to address the climate change perceptions of international travellers visiting New Zealand, while also undertaking proactive efficiency initiatives as a responsible corporate citizen.  

Carbon Neutral Status                 

In January 2008, CIAL became the first airport company in the Southern Hemisphere to attain certified carbon neutral status, through the reduction and offsetting of the greenhouse gas emissions directly generated by the airport company’s operations. The airport company received carboNZero^{Cert TM} certification from Landcare Research following a detailed measurement and analysis process. This certification process saw the airport company measuring, managing, reducing and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions arising from its operational business activities.

By using a “control approach,” CIAL has accounted for 100% of the greenhouse gas emissions from operations over which it has control. Consistent with this approach GHG emissions from aircraft movements and vehicles not owned by CIAL are excluded from the CIAL inventory. GHG emissions included in the inventory, but not offset, are farm holding activities and non-operational construction activities.

Current Actions

The airport company is committed to sustainability and environmental management and has developed an Emissions Reduction Plan to reduce current emissions. Some projects in this plan include:

• CIAL vehicle fleet – adapting vehicle replacement policy to include fuel efficiency considerations
• Airfield operations – recycle 10% of asphalt during runway maintenance program
• Terminal building – implement a monitoring and targeting program to identify and address energy inefficiencies within the terminal building
• Reduced electricity use for air conditioning by using groundwater as an energy source.  Groundwater is circulated through heat exchange and discharges back to ground with no change in water quality.
• A comprehensive audit of all waste generated from the operation of the domestic and international terminal