The Hamad International Airport (HIA) became the first airport in the GCC to achieve Level 3 of Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation.

HIA said the recognition was rich reward for their environmental protection strategy, which they had been running for several years now, reported Qatar News Agency.

HIA thus became the first airport in the GCC and only second in the Middle East and Northern Africa region to reach the Level 3 standing.

HIA’s achievement came just 18 months after first initiating its carbon management programme. The airport also recorded a 14.2% improvement in carbon efficiency (CO2 kg per passenger) in 2016 compared to 2015, reported Gulf Times.

“This accreditation acknowledges Hamad International Airport’s commitment to tackling climate change, and was achieved by continuing to measure the airport’s carbon emissions, implementing airport-wide energy reduction programmes and engaging airport stakeholders to measure and manage third-party emissions associated with the airport,” The Peninsula quoted Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport and Special Advisor to the ACI Asia-Pacific Board, as saying.

“Central to this commitment is HIA’s target to improve carbon efficiency per passenger by 30% by 2030 against a 2015 baseline,” he added.

HIA has developed a Carbon Management Strategy that provides the framework for energy reduction initiatives throughout the airport. An Energy Working Group has been created to identify and promote energy saving initiatives across the whole airport.

The group has implemented a number of new projects, including modifications to lighting, heating, ventilation and cooling systems and optimisation of Building Management System.