The operator of Dublin and Cork airports, daa, has signed up to the United Nations Global Compact Initiative.

The platform supports the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices. daa is one of the first 60 Irish organisations to join the global network.

CEO Kenny Jacobs said: "At daa, we're committed to having sustainability at the core of everything we do, across all aspects of our business. The UN Global Compact provides an opportunity for businesses to be transparent and accountable on their progress, and we are delighted to join the thousands of other companies signed up. This is an important milestone in daa's transition into a sustainable business as we strive to become a net zero carbon business by 2050 at the latest."

-- Advertisement --

In line with the National Climate Action Plan 2021, daa is committed to a target reduction of 51 per cent energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a 50 per cent improvement in energy efficiency and a requirement for 50 per cent of space heating to be from renewable sources.

Dublin Airport is currently demonstrating a minus 53 per cent energy performance reduction in energy efficiency. The airport has plans to sustainably upgrade its infrastructure over the next four years which will cost €400 million. The upgrades will include the generation of renewable energy through solar PV and anaerobic digestion, and widescale electrification of fleet. By 2025, 100 per cent of the light vehicle fleet at Dublin Airport will be electric with all of these projects integral to achieving daa's sustainability commitments, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions targets.

Cork Airport has achieved minus 66 per cent energy performance reductions in Energy Efficiency, already beating the targets, and an minus 45 per cent reduction in GHG emissions versus baseline

The UN Global Compact urges companies everywhere to align their operations with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).