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Ben Gurion International Airport – Carbon Management Plan - Summary

Ben Gurion International Airport – Carbon Management Plan - Summary 0 results are shown

Ben-Gurion Airport has been working in recent years to reduce its impact on the environment by developing and implementing plans of noise, energy management and efficiency, waste and recycling management and other aspects of the airport's impact on the environment. One of the major environmental challenges nowadays is climate changes and global warming. The main way in which companies are currently facing the challenge is reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The carbon footprint of the airport is being mapped annually since 2010. In 2015, IAA joined the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program to manage carbon emissions at Level 1 - Mapping. In 2016, the airport was certified at level 2 of the program - Reduction. As part of the process to achieve this accreditation level, a comprehensive GHG management and reduction plan was developed, including a detailed measures and setting targets for reduction. The plan also includes the organizational framework that supports its implementation, the strategy of implementing projects to reduce emissions, training and communication for employees and increasing the awareness of stakeholders (employees, suppliers, franchisees and passangers), as well as self-assessment and auditing procedures.

The organizational framework
The carbon policy is part of the IAA's environmental policy. The policy was updated in 2020 and approved by the senior management as part of the annual management survey, conducted in April 2021. The IAA's environmental policy is published on the website.

As part of the implementation of the carbon management plan, a dedicated steering committee was formed, consists relevant officials from various units. The main the steering committee's roles include:

  • Formulation strategic vision for carbon management.
  • Setting and approving targets for energy efficiency and GHG reductions.
  • Setting and approval of a work frame for implementation means and methods for energy savings.
  • Monitoring the progress of implementation, including monitoring and measuring achieved savings.
  • Identify and overcome constrains of the plan's implementation.

In addition to the steering committee, in accordance with Ministry of Energy's regulations, Ben Gurion Airport has an energy officer, who is responsible for quick repairs of faults that cause energy loss, supervision of operation and maintenance that ensure energy efficiency, measurement of monthly energy consumption and more.

Emission reduction targets
The emission reduction target was set at reducing the average emissions per passenger by 10% in 2020, compared to 2016, to a level of 4.23 kg CO2e per passenger.

In order to meet the target, the IAA is implementing a number of initiatives at Ben Gurion International Airport. The main initiative includes the connection of the airport to natural gas pipeline. Aside engineering and economic implications, this initiative has environmental importance, as natural gas-derived energy consumption is cleaner than the electricity supplied in the national electricity system or burning fuels for electricity generation.

A significant change in the operational format of the electricity generation system in the energy center of the airport is to be completed, including the installation fifth generator in a combined cycle gas turbine, so that it produces about 30% of Ben Gurion Airport's total electricity consumption. Another key initiative to reduce emissions is the construction of a photovoltaic facility (3.5 MW in the first phase) and modernization of lightings to energy efficient systems.  

Implementation methods
Prior to the approval of a new project, a document known as a "project paper" is submitted, which details the rationale, the engineering, economic and / or regulatory considerations, benefits, costs, and the implementation framework of the project (manpower, budget and schedule). These documents are essential in order to describe the projects and present them to the management, in order to give it tools for decision regarding the projects to be madw, while examining all the factors that may affect the project.

For optimal management of engineering projects, a procedure that defines the general framework of the project management process, including decision making principles, responsibilities and processes related to initiating, managing, executing, implementing and controlling the projects. The procedure defines steps in initiating and implementing the project.

Increasing awareness and training
In order to raise awareness among employees regarding various environmental issues, including climate change and carbon footprint, training is provided to the various units at Ben Gurion Airport by the Environment Department. The topics and frequency of training are based on an annual plan that details the degree of influence of the employees in the various units and the training and content that must be delivered to them during each year.

The tutorials include the following topics:

  1. Introduction to the ACA program and the carbon management plan at Ben Gurion Airport.
  2. Background on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

Self-assessment and auditing
The IAA has been certified to ISO14001:2004 for environmental management system, which is a tool for managing the environmental processes that take place throughout the organization.

IAA's environmental management system includes a comprehensive operational work scheme for environmental protection, minimizing the environmental affects and carbon   footprint of Ben Gurion Airport.

Management and control process is based on the PDCA (Plan Do Check Act) model.

Control and evaluation activities carried out by the IAA regarding environmental aspects include:

  • Analysis of environmental impacts.
  • Characterization and assessment of compliance with relevant environmental legal requirements.
  • Periodic self- auditing and tours to identify gaps and areas for improvements.
  • Addressing incompatibles.
  • Continuous monitoring and measurement of operational and consumption indices for assessing meeting environmental targets and goals.
  • Identifying and analyzing areas for improvement and initiating projects to improve environmental affects.
  • Management surveys to evaluate environmental performance of the IAA's environmental management system.