ICAO Framework for Mitigating Airport Environmental Impacts in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Addressing Environmental Impacts to Support Community Well-being and Sustainable Cities

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) acknowledges that airport operations can generate significant environmental impacts, directly affecting the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The management of these impacts is critical for ensuring the long-term welfare of airport personnel, users, and surrounding communities.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Emissions from airport-related sources can degrade local air quality, posing health risks to nearby populations.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Effective management of air quality, noise, water quality, waste, and energy consumption is essential for the sustainable integration of airports into urban environments.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Addressing energy consumption and waste management at airports contributes to sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Strategic Guidance for Air Quality Management

To support member states and airport authorities, ICAO provides strategic guidance that aligns with global sustainability targets. This effort promotes partnerships and provides technical frameworks essential for sustainable infrastructure development.

• ICAO Document 9889, the “Airport Air Quality Manual,” serves as a primary guidance tool. It assists stakeholders in assessing airport emission sources, compiling emission inventories, and allocating emissions, thereby supporting evidence-based decision-making for environmental protection. This aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by providing a standardized global resource.

A Framework for Assessing and Mitigating Air Quality Impacts

ICAO outlines a comprehensive, multi-step framework for assessing local air quality, which is fundamental to developing effective mitigation strategies. This systematic approach ensures that actions are targeted and impactful, contributing directly to SDG 3 and SDG 11.

1. Estimate Contaminants: The initial step is to obtain an accurate estimate of the types and quantities of pollutants being released into the local airshed.
2. Conduct Emissions Inventories: An emissions inventory quantifies the total mass of emissions released. This data is crucial for reporting, ensuring compliance, and planning mitigation efforts.
3. Utilize Dispersion Modelling: To understand the impact on public health, emissions data is used in dispersion models. This assesses the spatial and temporal distribution of pollutants to predict concentration levels in the vicinity of the airport.
4. Implement Mitigation Measures: The combined results from inventories and modelling inform the implementation of mitigation measures. These actions aim to reduce total emissions and lower pollution concentrations, with beneficial outcomes for both environmental and public health.

Advancements in Emissions Modelling and Sustainable Fuels

Recent work under the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) has focused on refining assessment methodologies and exploring innovative solutions to further advance sustainability in aviation.

Particle Matter (PM) Emissions Modelling

• The CAEP/13 cycle has prioritized the modelling of both volatile and non-volatile particle matter (PM) emissions from aircraft engines.
• This advancement improves the understanding of local air quality impacts, directly supporting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by enabling more accurate health risk assessments and bridging the gap between modelled and measured PM concentrations.

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)

• The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) is recognized for its significant role in the decarbonization of the aviation sector, a key objective of SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• In the context of local air quality, ICAO’s guidance (Doc 9889) assesses the direct emission benefits of SAF. The adoption of SAF provides co-benefits by reducing harmful local pollutants, thus contributing to SDG 3 and SDG 11, alongside its primary climate advantages. This also aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by promoting cleaner energy sources for critical infrastructure.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article addresses several Sustainable Development Goals by focusing on the environmental impacts of airports and the aviation industry’s efforts to mitigate them. The primary connections are to goals concerning health, sustainable infrastructure, sustainable communities, climate action, and responsible consumption.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly connects airport emissions to the “degradation of air quality” and the “welfare of airport workers, users and surrounding communities.” This highlights a concern for public health, which is central to SDG 3.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The text discusses airports as a form of infrastructure and the need for government bodies and airport authorities to address environmental issues. The development of guidance like the “Airport Air Quality Manual” and new modeling techniques for particle matter represents innovation within the aviation industry to make its infrastructure more sustainable.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article emphasizes managing environmental impacts “in the vicinity of airports,” which directly affects nearby communities. By addressing air quality, noise, water quality, and waste management, the initiatives contribute to making human settlements safer, more resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The focus on creating “emissions inventories” and managing pollutants like particle matter relates to the environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes and reducing their release into the air.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The mention of “sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)” and their role in the “decarbonization of aviation” directly links the article’s content to climate action and measures to combat climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 3.9

  “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article’s entire focus on assessing and mitigating air pollutants from airports to protect the health of nearby communities directly aligns with this target.

• Target 9.4

  “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.” The article’s discussion of using SAF, improving emission modeling, and implementing mitigation measures represents an effort to upgrade aviation infrastructure and processes to be more sustainable.

• Target 11.6

  “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.” The article’s core subject is managing the local environmental impact of airports, with a specific focus on air quality, which is a key component of this target.

• Target 12.4

  “By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.” The process of creating emissions inventories and modeling pollution concentrations is a foundational step in managing the release of pollutants (chemicals) into the air to minimize their impact.

• Target 13.2

  “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The article notes that national and international air quality programs require airports to address these issues. The consideration of SAF for decarbonization is a clear example of integrating climate change measures into industry strategy.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies several specific indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Emissions Inventories

  The article explicitly states that an “emissions inventory gives the total mass of emissions released into the environment.” This total mass of specific pollutants (e.g., particle matter) serves as a direct, quantifiable indicator for tracking pollution levels and the effectiveness of mitigation efforts.

• Pollution Concentrations

  The text discusses “dispersion modelling of pollution concentrations” and “ambient measurement” as key parts of an air quality assessment. The measured or modeled concentration of pollutants (e.g., PM concentrations) in the air around airports is a critical indicator of local air quality and human exposure, relevant to Target 3.9 and 11.6.

• Particle Matter (PM) Emissions

  The article specifies a focus on modeling “particle matter (PM) emissions,” including both “non-volatile” and “volatile” particles. Tracking the levels of these specific pollutants is a detailed indicator of air quality impact.

• Adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)

  The article mentions the “use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)” as a key strategy for decarbonization and improving local air quality. The volume or percentage of SAF used by the aviation industry can be a clear indicator of progress towards Target 9.4 and 13.2.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: icao.int