Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) told Traveller24 that OR Tambo International Airport, King Shaka International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Port Elizabeth International Airport had met the entry-level standards of the ACA programme to achieve Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) – the only institutionally endorsed, global carbon-management certification programme for airports.

There are only six accredited African airports at Level 1 Mapping of the ACA programme, of which four are in South Africa and two in Morocco. In total, this represents 25,6% of African air passenger traffic.

The ACA programme independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions through four levels of certification and provides airports with a common framework for active carbon management through measurable goals.

Acsa also told Traveller24 that in line with the ACA Level 1 requirements, the four recently accredited airports determined their operational boundaries and emission sources, calculated their annual carbon emissions, compiled carbon footprint reports and engaged independent third parties to verify their carbon footprint calculations.

The next steps would entail reduction, optimisation and overall neutrality.

Three of South Africa's airports, in George, Kimberley and Upington, have already been converted to solar power in 2016.

Added to this, Acsa plans to convert Bram Fischer Airport (Bloemfontein), East London and Port Elizabeth to solar power by the end of 2017.

"Ultimately the solar conversion programme will be part of achieving this accreditation on an airport-by-airport basis. The company aims to have its other airports – Bram Fischer, Upington, Kimberley, George and East London – achieve Level 1 ACA within the next year," says Acsa. – Source: www.traveller24.com