Hyderabad airport gets Green Airports award for 5th time

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad International Airport won the silver award at the Airports Council International's (ACI) Green Airports Recognition 2022 programme. The award was in the 15-50 million passengers per annum (MPPA) category in the Asia-Pacific region for its efficient carbon management process.

Since 2018, this is the fifth consecutive year that Hyderabad airport has won this award.

ACI's Green Airports Recognition programme promotes best environmental practices to minimise the aviation industry's impact on the environment. It recognises ACI Asia-Pacific members for outstanding environmental initiatives and projects.

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL) has been working diligently with its stakeholders to adopt environmental protection as its core operating principle through sustainable airport operations.

To contribute to the ICAO's (International Civil Aviation Organisation) environmental goal – 'Limit or Reduce the Impact of Aviation Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) on the Global Climate', – GHIAL has promoted the following initiatives:

· Green buildings

· Renewable energy use

· Energy conservation

· Eco-friendly refrigerants usage and fuel conservation

· Fuel and energy-efficient airport operations

· Green belt development – Carbon sinking

· GHG (Green House Gas) emissions management and carbon neutrality

Speaking on this achievement, Pradeep Panicker, the CEO of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, said, "Environmental protection and sustainability are an integral part of our businesses and we are committed to conserving the environment by adopting energy conservation practices in the airport ecosystem. Over the years, GMR Hyderabad International Airport has been compliant with green norms by using sustainable resources, eco-friendly products, energy-efficient devices, eco-friendly technology, and opting for renewable energy and alternative fuels. In our sustainability journey, we are collaboratively working on solutions and studies for sustainable aviation fuel. We are most humbled to receive this recognition from ACI – Asia Pacific Environment Committee which further resolves us to strengthen our eco-friendly initiatives."

GHIAL's carbon management is also aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 which mandates urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Subsequently, GHIAL has adopted the 'Airport Carbon Accreditation' programme of ACI to become the first airport in its category in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve carbon neutral level 3+ status. In this journey, GHIAL is working towards becoming a 'Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport'.