Sangster International Airport (SIA) has become the first airport in the English-speaking Caribbean to achieve Level 3 certification under the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme.
The announcement was made by Shane Munroe, Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports Limited, during a recent virtual forum.
Munroe said the accreditation recognises the airport’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions through collaboration with airlines, ground handlers, concessionaires and other airport partners.
‘It’s certainly international recognition that MBJ has moved beyond just managing and measuring its own emissions but is now engaged in the wider airport community in a coordinated approach to carbon reduction,’ he said.
Munroe explained that while earlier levels of accreditation focused on emissions generated by the airport’s own operations, Level 3 requires airports to work with other organisations operating at the facility to collectively reduce emissions.
‘At level three, the airport’s responsibility certainly expands. It’s no longer about what MBJ controls… but we are starting to look at our airlines, our ground handlers, our concessionaires and other onsite partners to ensure that we make environmentally responsible [decisions] and there is a shared commitment to reducing emissions at MBJ,’ he said.
Munroe said the accreditation forms part of MBJ Airports Limited’s wider sustainability programme, which includes renewable energy investments and environmental management systems.
‘One of the highlights of this achievement is that we are the first, certainly in the English-speaking Caribbean, to achieve this credential,’ he said.
He added that the airport intends to continue investing in environmentally responsible infrastructure as Sangster International Airport expands to meet future demand.