NADI International Airport is the first airport in the Blue Pacific to attain Level 4 Transformation of the Airport Carbon Accreditation after it was awarded the Green Airports Recognition (GAR) 2025 in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday night.
The Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) is an Airports Council International (ACI) green initiative for its members, and it runs independent assessments of airports around the world and its efforts to manage and reduce emissions.
Airports were encouraged to showcase innovative initiatives in energy management, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable energy source like solar and green diesel, electric vehicles, green and zero-energy buildings, and various energy optimisation measures.
Fiji Airports earned the level of transformation in recognition of its work in aligning its carbon management with global climate goals – to reach absolute emission reductions as part of the global airports industry’s response to the challenge of climate change.
Fiji Airports CEO Mesake Nawari acknowledged the support, commitment, and understanding of their management team and staff in driving sustainability across its airport operations.
“This accomplishment underscores our role in the global effort to combat climate change,” Mr Nawari said.
“Recognising that our infrastructure is vulnerable to climate change events, we are mobilising resources to do out part in addressing this critical issue.
“We are punching above our weight and to be recognised alongside bigger international airports signifies our commitment to reducing our carbon emissions and the active steps undertaken to minimise its environmental impact.”
Fiji Airports had achieved Level 3 Optimisation in Airport Carbon Accreditation in 2020.
According to Fiji Airports, Nadi International Airport is rated Level 4 Transformation alongside Japan’s Narita International Airport, Dubai International Airport, King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, and Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan.
Fiji Airports has launched numerous sustainability initiatives over the past year under Mr Nawari’s leadership, with the team actively working to reduce emissions and further enhance the airport’s environmental performance.
Those sustainability projects include the procurement of 14 solar-powered electric vehicles at the Nadi airport, and surplus energy in a battery bank to power streetlights and external signage in the airport vicinity.
Four domestic airport terminals in Savusavu, Matei, Rotuma and the temporary Labasa terminal building are now fully solar-powered following the installations of solar panels by Renewable Energy Special Projects team in recent months.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated April 18, 2025
