Essendon Fields has taken a step forward on its journey to reduce the Airport’s carbon footprint, achieving Level 1: Mapping as part of the internationally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation program.

Airport Carbon Accreditation is a globally recognised program aimed at encouraging airports to work towards reducing carbon emissions. It is run and operated by the European division of the Airports Council International (ACI), supported by ACI bodies worldwide, including in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East.

The governing body describes it as the only institutionally-endorsed, global carbon management certification programme for airports. It independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions through 7 levels of certification: ‘L1: Mapping’, ‘L2: Reduction’, ‘L3: Optimisation’, ‘L3+: Neutrality’, ‘L4: Transformation’, ‘L4+: Transition’ and the topmost ‘Level 5’ which sets high standards for airports to significantly reduce their absolute carbon emissions.

Essendon Fields Airport, along with other airports of its size in Australia such as Townsville and Broome, has now achieved Level 1 or Mapping accreditation which relates to the determination of emission sources within the operational boundary of the airport company, as well as calculating the annual carbon emissions and compiling a carbon footprint report.

Essendon Fields Planning Managing Brad Evans said achieving Level 1: Mapping in the global Airport Carbon Accreditation program was an important milestone for the airport.

“This is a great first step to understand where we are today and benchmark ourselves in the industry. Essendon Fields is committed to improving environmental outcomes at the precinct and reducing our carbon footprint, from undertaking to plant 15,000 new trees after already achieving a 10,000-tree milestone in 2022, to installing efficient and emission reducing LED lighting across the precinct, each action is a sustainable step in the right direction” he said.

Last year Essendon Fields proudly reported it had offset 100 per cent of the carbon emissions from the lighting on its airport runways, taxiways and aprons, as well as ensuring carpark and streetlights across the precinct and at DFO Essendon were upgraded to more energy efficient LED lighting. With 1 million litres of rainwater storage currently the capacity, Essendon Fields also looks to increase this to 1.5 million litres, and careful consideration goes towards the incorporation of water sensitive urban design initiatives into new development. Rooftop solar PV panels will continue to roll out as well, which creates significant power supply to feed back into the Essendon Fields embedded network. 1,242 panels have been installed, with the intent to grow this figure over the long-term to significantly boost the generation and use of renewable energy onsite.

For more information about the commitment to sustainability at Essendon Fields please visit: https://ef.com.au/about-us/sustainability/