HONG Kong International Airport (HKIA) has pledged to attain net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the switch to electric vehicles as a key solution in its blueprint.
The airport aims to cut its absolute carbon emissions by 55 per cent by 2035, subsequently reaching the net zero target in 15 years. The mark, which comes from a 2018 baseline, is similar to the standard set by London's Heathrow Airport, reports Hong Kong's SCMP.
Peter Lee, general manager of sustainability at Hong Kong's airport, said: 'Our target is net zero instead of neutrality so it's quite clear to us that we will try not to pursue any offset at all, in particular for the midpoint of 2035.
'In terms of the 2050 ultimate target, I think we need to wait and see what technology is coming,' he added.
The airport reached the 2035 baseline last year due to the near inactivity of passenger flights brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Twenty-nine business partners - including companies ranging from Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited, which account for 90 per cent of the air hub's carbon footprint - have also jointly committed to net zero targets, according to airport management.
Hong Kong has made strides in recent years to cut back on vehicle emissions through the use of driverless technology for baggage or air cargo services or incorporating major infrastructure to remove vehicles outright.
By the end of 2030, the airport's fleet of cars, buses and vans will be fully electric. Currently a fifth of the fleet is electric. The number of airfield charging points will also be more than doubled from 270 to 580 next year.
Another area of focus is on electric-powered ground service equipment such as tow trucks, as well as container-loading and passenger-steps vehicles. Some 270 electric-based service vehicles have already arrived, and the fleet size will increase to 580 next year.
The airport bought existing fossil fuel-based equipment last year from struggling aviation services firms at the start of the pandemic and has taken on the cost of phasing out mostly diesel-powered vehicles.
It has also accelerated the purchase of greener equipment, in a move the Airport Authority said was a first of its kind for an aviation hub. Costs will be covered by renting out the resources to service firms and savings from not requiring fuel.
Rental income will be generated from ground-handling companies in exchange for purchasing the equipment upfront, therefore avoiding passing costs to passengers.
Mr Lee described the arrangement as 'a win-win situation'.
The conversion to electric support equipment so far has cost the airport HK$200 million, with another HK$400 million allocated to complete the transition for the entire passenger terminal.
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The airport aims to cut its absolute carbon emissions by 55 per cent by 2035, subsequently reaching the net zero target in 15 years. The mark, which comes from a 2018 baseline, is similar to the standard set by London's Heathrow Airport, reports Hong Kong's SCMP.
Peter Lee, general manager of sustainability at Hong Kong's airport, said: 'Our target is net zero instead of neutrality so it's quite clear to us that we will try not to pursue any offset at all, in particular for the midpoint of 2035.
'In terms of the 2050 ultimate target, I think we need to wait and see what technology is coming,' he added.
The airport reached the 2035 baseline last year due to the near inactivity of passenger flights brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Twenty-nine business partners - including companies ranging from Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited, which account for 90 per cent of the air hub's carbon footprint - have also jointly committed to net zero targets, according to airport management.
Hong Kong has made strides in recent years to cut back on vehicle emissions through the use of driverless technology for baggage or air cargo services or incorporating major infrastructure to remove vehicles outright.
By the end of 2030, the airport's fleet of cars, buses and vans will be fully electric. Currently a fifth of the fleet is electric. The number of airfield charging points will also be more than doubled from 270 to 580 next year.
Another area of focus is on electric-powered ground service equipment such as tow trucks, as well as container-loading and passenger-steps vehicles. Some 270 electric-based service vehicles have already arrived, and the fleet size will increase to 580 next year.
The airport bought existing fossil fuel-based equipment last year from struggling aviation services firms at the start of the pandemic and has taken on the cost of phasing out mostly diesel-powered vehicles.
It has also accelerated the purchase of greener equipment, in a move the Airport Authority said was a first of its kind for an aviation hub. Costs will be covered by renting out the resources to service firms and savings from not requiring fuel.
Rental income will be generated from ground-handling companies in exchange for purchasing the equipment upfront, therefore avoiding passing costs to passengers.
Mr Lee described the arrangement as 'a win-win situation'.
The conversion to electric support equipment so far has cost the airport HK$200 million, with another HK$400 million allocated to complete the transition for the entire passenger terminal.
SeaNews Turkey
