Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the managing body and operator of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), recently achieved the Airport Carbon Accreditation 'Level 1 Mapping' from the Airports Council International (ACI).

The achievement is a significant milestone in BAC's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operate BIA as an environmentally-friendly facility on par with its global counterparts.

The Airport Carbon Accreditation is the only institutionally-endorsed carbon management certification standard for airports and recognises and accredits airports that successfully manage and reduce their carbon footprint. Currently in its sixth year, this programme has accredited a total of 122 airports the world over.

BAC has been collaborating with French Consultancy Group, Envisa, to set specific goals consistent with the criteria set by the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. With the guidance and consultation of Envisa, BAC is in the process of developing a comprehensive Carbon Management Plan outlining an achievable long-term environmental strategy to gradually reduce BIA's carbon emissions and ultimately achieve full accreditation.

'Level 1 Mapping' is the first step in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme's four-step accreditation process which also includes Reduction, Optimisation and Neutrality.

Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, chief executive officer at Bahrain Airport Company, said: "Achieving the first level of Airport Carbon Accreditation is a significant step in BAC's mission to eventually become a carbon-neutral facility. Environmental sustainability has become a global movement and the aviation industry is increasingly taking action to reduce its carbon footprint and operate in a greener, more responsible manner. We are keen to do our part to preserve the environment and we will persist with our goal to reduce our emissions and gradually turn BIA into carbon-neutral facility."

The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme takes into consideration aircraft emissions whilst stationed within an airport's perimeter and on initial departure and final approach. Airport Carbon Accreditation uses the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) definition of the Landing-Take Off cycle and requires airports to comply with these definitions. The accreditation follows the principles of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) "Greenhouse Gas Protocol" Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. – TradeArabia News Service