ACI grants an unprecedented certification to Aeroporto Internacional de Salvador (SSA)

The International Airports Council of Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) announces today that Salvador de Bahía Airport, operated by VINCI Airports, has just received Level 3 certification (Optimization) of the Carbon Footprint Accreditation Program (HERE).

The airport in the capital of Bahia is the first in Brazil to reach the third phase of a scale of 6 levels of certification for airports around the world that strive to reduce their carbon emissions.

Level 3 certification (optimization) is granted to airports that, in addition to mapping their carbon footprint, manage to reduce emissions based on pre-established criteria and involve third parties (from airlines to various service providers) in this process.

The Salvador de Bahía airport stands out for several achievements in the field of sustainability, including those related to waste management, increased energy efficiency.

The airport was the first in the North/Northeast regions and the second in Brazil to obtain Level 1 Airport Carbon Accreditation certification in 2018, and Level 2 in December 2019, when it recorded a 6.12% reduction in its carbon emissions.

The "Zero Landfill" program, which achieved the elimination of solid waste produced within the airport, was also recognized by ACI-LAC in 2021, obtaining the Green Airport Recognition. The previous year, the airport received the same recognition for its Wastewater plant, which allowed all generated effluents to go to a Treatment Plant, allowing 100% of the treated water to be reused for other uses.

"We are very proud of this achievement. Reducing our carbon emissions is one of our missions as a company. Having the endorsement of the Airports Council International in this process reinforces our commitment and helps spread the culture of decarbonization," commented Julio Ribas. , general manager of the Salvador de Bahía airport.

"The Salvador de Bahía airport has been demonstrating in recent years, with clear goals and actions, that demonstrate a transition towards sustainable development that ACI stimulates among its partners. It is with great pride that we recognize another achievement of the Salvador de Bahía Airport, with the certainty that the airport is moving towards the next stages of certification of the ACA Program", said Rafael Echevarne, General Director of ACI-LAC.

ICA Airport Carbon Accreditation

Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) is the world's only approved carbon management certification program for airports. Independently assesses and recognizes the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions through 6 levels of certification:

Level 1 "Mapping": The airport maps its carbon footprint, identifies sources and calculates annual emissions.

Level 2 "Reduction": The airport demonstrates the reduction of emissions with proof of procedures and compliance with carbon management objectives.

Level 3 "Optimization": The airport expands the scope of emission reduction and involves third parties in the process.

Level 4 "Neutrality": The airport meets the requirements of the previous phases and offsets the remaining emissions with carbon credits.

Level 5 "Transformation": The airport defines a long-term carbon management strategy aimed at the absolute reduction of emissions.

Level 6 "Transition": In addition to fulfilling the steps above, the airport offsets the remaining carbon emissions over which it has control.

Through these stages, the Carbon Footprint Accreditation recognizes the efforts of airports that are at different stages on their way to comprehensive carbon management. It is a program for airports of all sizes and is based on internationally recognized methodologies, providing airport operators with a common framework for carbon management with measurable objectives.

The program is site-specific, allowing flexibility to take into account national or local legal requirements.

Currently, almost 400 airports around the world are part of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program. In the Latin American and Caribbean region there are 54 airports.

The 6 certified Brazilian airports are: Brasilia International Airport, Natal International Airport, Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro and Santos Dumont Airport (at level 1 - "Mapping"), Belo Horizonte International Airport (at level 2 - "Reduction") and Salvador International Airport (at level 3 - "Optimization").