Airports Council International (ACI) World has launched a comprehensive report to help airport executives with their sustainability strategies.

The ACI World Sustainability Strategy for Airports Worldwide provides an overview of how sustainable aviation can contribute to the UN’s sustainable development goals and provides the first overview of the most relevant and commonly reported material sustainability topics.

Based on desk research and on data collection from over 80 airports globally, topics covered include service quality, infrastructure development, and safe and efficient operations.

Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director general at ACI World, said: “While sustainability is a topic highly influenced by local issues, global issues such as climate change and global trends related to environment, social and governance (ESG) reporting have also emerged.

“The finance community is calling for more uniformity and harmonisation on the ways stakeholders report on sustainability, including the material topics they choose to report on. Greater consistency in this regard would facilitate secure decision making by reducing risks related to sustainability credit ratings and the allocation of finance and investment, which require sustainability criteria.”

The report also provides case studies that showcase best practices on how airports are implementing social, environmental and economic sustainability initiatives and embedding them in their overall business strategy and operation.

The guidance was made possible with the financial support of Hamad International Airport and was developed in collaboration with Tailor Airey and Vancouver International Airport.