New Delhi, September 27, 2016: Delhi Airport, managed by Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL), a GMR Group led consortium, today announced that it has become the first airport in Asia-Pacific to achieve Carbon Neutral status.

The announcement has been made by Airports Council International (ACI) during the Airport Carbon Accreditation certificate presentation ceremony inMontreal, Canada, today, whereMr I Prabhakara Rao, CEO, DIAL received the prestigious certificate. The same body awarded Delhi Airport the world’s number one position (in 25-40 million passengers per annum category) twice in a row under the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) programme.

The Chief Executive Officer of GMR Group’s Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), Mr IPrabhakara Rao said: “Achievement of the accreditation for Carbon Neutrality is indeed recognition of a great team work. Today we have delivered on our commitment of achieving sustainable solutions for Aviation Climate Change mitigations made at LPAA-COP 21 last year through carbon neutrality. With this achievement, we have set up new benchmark for other airports in this region to follow.”

“Going forward we are focussing on energy conservation and exploring alternative solution for generating green energy. Delhi Airport aims to increase its solar power generation capacity to 20 MW by 2020,” added Mr. Rao.

The globally reputed Airport Carbon Accreditation has upgraded Delhi Airport to “Level 3+, Neutrality”, which is the highest level of achievement available to airports across the world. Carbon neutrality occurs when the net carbon emissions over an entire year is zero. This means the airport absorbs or offsets the same amount of emission that was generated. This achievement is accredited by ACI under Airport Carbon Accreditation that monitors the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions.

ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Mrs. Patti Chau said, “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the team at Delhi Airport in achieving the carbon neutral airport status under Airport Carbon Accreditation. We are extremely delighted to welcome the first airport in our region with such achievement. Level 3+, Neutrality is the highest level of environmental achievement available to airports under the programme and it is recognition of the airport’s great effort in reducing and offsetting emissions. We are proud of Delhi Airport’s achievement and its commitment to sustainability which has set a good example for airports in the region.”

The 39th ICAO Assembly, which is coinciding with this event, also explores avenues of attaining climate change mitigation solution amongst the member nations.

At IGIA, DIAL has taken the proactive approach towards environment management and sustainability development. Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport is a LEED Gold certified green building. The energy efficiency measures implemented in IGIA has been registered in UNFCCC as Clean Development Mechanism project. DIAL has also set up 7.84 MW solar power plants to reduce GHG emission. Other energy efficient and environment-friendly infrastructures at the airport include state of the art Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and Water treatment plant (WTP), energy efficient Bridge Mounted Equipment (BMEs), energy efficient lighting systems, advanced fuel hydrant systems, Fixed Electric Ground Power Units (FEGP) and Preconditioned Air (PCA) supply systems.

The various emission saving measures implemented in DIAL have resulted in 51% reduction in specific GHG emission (kgCO2/Pax) during the last five years. IGI Airport is the first Airport in the world to be certified for ISO 50001:2011. This airport is also certified for Environment Management System (ISO 14001:2004). Delhi Airport has won numerous awards and recognitions including Green Company – Gold Rating Award and National Award for Excellence in Energy management – 2015 by CII–Green Business Center, Golden Peacock Environment Management Award and Golden Peacock Sustainability Award – 2015 by Institute of Directors for its exemplary performance towards environmental sustainability initiatives.

For Further details, please contact: Yuvraj Mehta, Group Head & VP – Corporate Communication, at Yuvraj.Mehta@gmrgroup.in