BALI – To welcome the Earth Hour 2019, Angkasa Pura Airports shows its commitment in supporting conservation and environmental education movement in 13 airports and the surrounding area.
The effort, which is intended to be a roadmap of transforming business towards sustainable life, is stated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the company and WWF-Indonesia in Bali on Monday (18/3/2019).
Angkasa Pura Airports and WWF-Indonesia collaborates in conservation and education, environmental preservation, and tourism development based on the principles of sustainable management. The collaboration specifically includes campaign of Earth Hour in 13 airports and eight cities, conservation program and education to increase public and stakeholders’ awareness of the environment including waste management, tree planting, and ecotourism management programs.
“This MoU shows the commitment of Angkasa Pura Airports to support conservation and environmental education movements with various environmental conservation activities, tourism development based on the principles of sustainable management,” said Angkasa Pura Airports president director Faik Fahmi.
Business owners at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali welcomed the initiative by demonstrating a joint commitment to reduce the use of disposable plastics in their business. The action further confirms Angkasa Pura Airports’ commitment to preserve the environment and promote sustainable business practice.
Furthermore, Angkasa Pura Airports partnering with WWF-Indonesia to campaign and provide education on topics related to environmental conservation. WWF-Indonesia was chosen because it is the largest conservation and sustainable development organization with a good track record.
“We believe the collaboration with WWF-Indonesia can give optimal impact that reinforces the commitment of environmental conservation and sustainable business practices,” Faik said.
“WWF-Indonesia welcomes the partnership with Angkasa Pura Airports in implementing conservation and environmental education programs, especially the support for integrating sustainable business practices into Angkasa Pura Airports’ corporate governance. I’m sure that all parties have an important role in reducing environmental damage and reversing the situation so that Earth remains sustainable as it is a place where humans and nature live in harmony. Angkasa Pura Airports and its 13 airports will give a large contribution because of its strategic position as a gateway to responsible tourism destinations,” said WWF-Indonesia CEO Rizal Malik.
Besides, Angkasa Pura Airports continues its support in reducing global warming and the impact of climate change through energy savings by holding a global campaign Switch Off Earth Hour 2019 initiated by the Earth Hour Community and WWF-Indonesia in 13 airports simultaneously.
This year, the center of the global campaign Switch Off will be held at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar on March 30, 2019 at 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm local time. overall, the activities will not disturb the operational and service in the 13 airports. All airplane passengers, the people, communities, and stakeholders are expected to take part in the Earth Hour event by turning off lights or electronics that are not needed on March 30, 2019 for an our starting at 9.30 pm local time.
Angkasa Pura Airports Applies an Environmental-Based Management System
Angkasa Pura Airports’ commitment to environment preservation and sustainable business is not only demonstrated through various activities to preserve the environment in airport areas such as conservation and environmental education. In addition, Angkasa Pura Airports also applies the principles of environmental preservation to create a sustainable business.
“The development and management of airport conducted by Angkasa Pura Airports must bring social benefits as well as environmental benefits for the community around the airport. Therefore, to anticipate long-term environmental impacts, we’re committed to applying eco-airport principles and sustainable corporate principles to the operation and development of airports managed by Angkasa Pura Airports,” Faik said.
Angkasa Pura Airports has introduced the concept of eco-friendly through the new terminal of General Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, followed by I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport that implements ISO 14001 which is international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system.
Apart from that, Angkasa Pura Airports has also incorporated in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) some environmental programs such as tree planting, coral reef planting, and others.
Below are some initiatives in environmental-based operational activities conducted by Angkasa Pura Airports:
• Reporting on carbon generated at all Angkasa Pura I’s 13 airports through the ACERT platform (ACI's Airport Carbon and Emissions Reporting Tool) every 6 months. The platform makes it easy for Angkasa Pura Airports to review energy management.
• Conduct an Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal) in every development in the airport area, both landside and airside.
• Provide installation of rainwater management, wastewater recycling, measurement of vehicle emissions, and waste management.
• Implementation of the architecture concept for the terminals’ lightning at new airports and airport terminals.
• Installation of LED floods lights for lighting the apron area, sensor systems in equipment, solar panels and magnetic-bearing centrifugal chillers. All of them are alternative solutions in energy savings.
• Angkasa Pura Airports also conducts habitat management studies to ensure airport development and operations do not disturb biodiversity and mitigate hazards caused by the presence of wild animals in the airport area.
Angkasa Pura Airports' commitment to the environment and sustainable business operations is also indicated by the participation of Adi Soemarmo International Airport in Solo in the program of Airport Excellence (APEX) in Environment held by the Airports Council International (ACI) in 2018. The Adi Soemarmo International Airport was the first airport in Asia-Pacific to take part in an event related to the application of environmental and sustainability principles at the airport.
In the program, a review of environmental management aspects at Adi Soemarmo International Airport was conducted by environmental experts. Besides, the airport studied the best practice of environment-based airport management from the world's leading airports.
