PHNOM PENH: Under the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), introduced in 2009 on the initiative of the Airports Council International (ACI), Phnom Penh International Airport has reached Level 3 certification of a program aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, read a press release issued on Monday.

The program, independently verified, has 7 levels of certification: Mapping, Reduction, Optimisation, Neutrality, Transformation, Transition, and level 5. Since the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28), ACI introduced this new level 5 accreditation, awarded at this point to only 10 airports worldwide, among them 4 airports developed and operated by VINCI Airports, the parent company of Cambodia Airports, the concessionaire of the international airports in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

The ACA program requires the monitoring of the airport's carbon footprint and the implementation of actions to reduce the footprint over the years.

To achieve its targets, the airport has invested heavily in highly efficient chiller systems for central air conditioning, replaced all light sources with LED technologies, or reduced the use of diesel ground generators.

The upgrade to level 3 of Phnom Penh International Airport results from associating third parties, such as restaurants, fuel suppliers, and airliners, into the program, further curbing carbon footprint emissions.

On another front, Cambodia Airports has deployed a comprehensive program aiming at waste management, streamlining water consumption, and protecting natural resources and biodiversity. It also includes the building of a waste sorting facility to recover recyclable wastes and separate food waste from the rest, and the replacement of waste bins to promote waste segregation at the source.

Cyril GIROT, CEO of Cambodia Airports, said that being a pioneer and a leader in environmental actions is a key strategy for Cambodia Airports, powered by VINCI Airports and doubling down the ACA program, Phnom Penh Airport has successfully been certified ISO 14001 in December 2023.

“The achievements demonstrate our strong commitment to coping with the challenges of global climate change. I want to express my appreciation to our personnel and partners for actively taking part in these environmental initiatives, contributing to all communities, and making real positive mobility,” Cyrill GIROT said.