MCIA, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East inks MOU for Net Zero emissions goals

LAPULAPU CITY– Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish and support a comprehensive framework on environmentally sustainable initiatives for Net Zero emissions goals by 2050.

Signed on October 16 at the MCIA Terminal 1 Boarding Gate 16, with the presence of ICAO President, Salvatore Sciacchitano and Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar on the sidelines of the 59th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Region held in Cebu on October 14-18, 2024.

“In an era where environmental sustainability has become not just an option but a fundamental need for the aviation industry, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East is proud to lead in guiding our airport members towards achieving their Net Zero emissions goals,” Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East said at the signing ceremony.

Boronci went on that as the industry continues to face increasing pressure to minimize its carbon footprint, ACI recognizes that robust action is required to ensure that airports are prepared for a sustainable future through the Net Zero Roadmap programme that offers tailored support to airports like Mactan Cebu International to help them create practical and effective plan.

The program which is endorsed by the Airport Carbon Accreditation, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East will provide strategic guidance to support the airport’s sustainability journey. This on-demand service which serves as a complementary to Airport Carbon Accreditation, helps airports create structured plans, including carbon footprint projections, governance frameworks, and recommendations across areas like assets, fuels, and operations, Boronci explained.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of advancing sustainability in Filipino airports. While we recognize there is still much work ahead, our partnership with ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East gives us confidence that our initiatives will leave a meaningful, long-lasting impact on the environment,” Athanasios Titonis, Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz InfraCapital GMCAC, the private operator of MCIA said, in his opening message.

Titonis said with this agreement, MCIA reaffirms its commitment to establish a benchmark for sustainability among Philippine airports and hope to inspire other airports across the Philippines and Asia to follow suit.

“Together, we can drive sustainable tourism, ensuring that destinations worldwide offer enriching and responsible experiences for generations to come,” Titonis added.

To recall, Mactan Cebu International Airport was recently accredited with Level 1 certification from Airport Carbon Accreditation, the globally recognized carbon management programme for airports.  The MoU for Net Zero Roadmap programme will support the airport in progressing to Level 5, the highest level of the programme. 

Achieving Level 5 requires the airport to maintain a Net Zero carbon balance for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, while actively addressing Scope 3 emissions which need the guidance on CAPEX planning, implementation strategies, and offsetting measures, while connecting airports with global financial institutions for potential funding, Titonis explained.

Julius Neri, MCIA General Manager in his message is confident that the partnership with ACI will significantly accelerate MCIA's sustainability efforts, ensuring the highest level of efficiency in achieving their environmental goals. MCIA's success has always been driven by strong synergies, most notably in collaboration with its private operator, Aboitiz InfraCapital GMCAC.

“This collaboration has cultivated an airport ecosystem that consistently demonstrates its effectiveness and with Airports Council International (ACI) now joining in this sustainability journey, we are confident that their expertise will bring valuable insights and further elevate our efforts toward creating a more sustainable future,” Neri said.

The signing of the MOU between Stefano Baronci, Secretary General of Airports Council International and Athanasios Titonis, CEO ofAboitiz InfraCapital GMCAC was joined by Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of International Civil Aviation Organization, Julius Neri, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, Salvatore Ciacchitano, President of International Civil Aviation Organization.

ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) serves as the voice of 132 airport members, operating 624 airports across 47 countries/territories in Asia-Pacific and Middle East. It is head-quartered in Hong Kong and has a Middle East office in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is the second-largest airport in the Philippines. It serves over 11 million foreign and local passengers yearly, making it the second busiest airline hub in the country. MCIA is operated by a Filipino-led private consortium between Aboitiz InfraCapital, GMR Group of India, and Megawide Construction Corporation under a concession agreement with the Philippine Government. (Photos: MBCNewman)