As reported by the report on the "Sustainable reduction of the level of carbon footprint in the Airports program” (Deliverable D.T1.2.1), Podgorica, Montenegro – Reference No: 492-2022-2, the world has a rapidly closing window of time to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate  change. Since 1990, global annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have increased by 50  percent, rising from a little less than 40 gigatons (Gt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) to  just under 60 Gt of CO2eq. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1.5°C special report (https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15), the world only has 8 years to reduce carbon  emissions by 45%, and only 28 years before net zero emissions must be reached, if global average temperature rises to only 1.5°C has to be kept. The Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change established a global action plan to reduce the impacts of climate change by limiting global warming to below 2°C and pursuing efforts to keep warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Keeping the global average temperature increase to within 1.5°C requires all sectors of the economy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Global concern about the effects of climate change and the impact on infrastructure is becoming increasingly prevalent. It is estimated that inclement weather results in around 70 per cent of annual flight delays and future weather changes could exacerbate these challenges. (US data 2018, Fact Sheet – Inclement Weather, https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/inclement-weather-0?newsId=23074 ). From sea level rise to changes in temperature, weather, wind and storm patterns, the impacts of climate change are predicted to pose a serious risk to airport operations if unaddressed. 

Transportation powered by fossil fuels, from ships to cars, and trucks to jet fuel airplanes is essential to the functioning of our modern economy. Transportation as a sector accounts foraround 16% of global emissions (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report 2022). Ground transport has made significant progress in its journey toward zero carbon mobility, but air transport has been lagging well behind. The development of low-emission aviation fuels, including biofuels, hydrogen, and electric-powered aircraft is well underway, but will take time. Beyond the aircraft itself, the entire aviation infrastructure and services must also undergo a green transition. Total GHG emissions in transportation sector in Montenegro amounted 883.29 Gg CO2eq in 2019.

While the global aviation industry currently accounts for only 2.0-2.8 percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, the IPCC expects this to rise to approximately 15 percent if no action is taken. In fact, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts that global passenger traffic will grow by 1.5 to 3.8 percent over the next 20 years, to 10 billion passengers by 2050. As a large contributor of greenhouse gas emissions and a difficult-to-abate sector, aviation is coming under increased scrutiny, from non-governmental organisations and activists, as well as regulators, to transform. In terms of overall aviation CO2 emissions, while the majority is produced from flying aircraft, airports’ ground operations can become more sustainable. 

Airport-controlled activities account for around 3.0-4.0 percent (Airport Carbon Accreditation Annual Report 2017-2018, ACI-Europe).

There is a global movement toward climate neutrality within the aviation industry. In June 2019, the Airport Council International Europe committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (Europe’s airports commit to zero CO2 emissions by 2050, http://www.airport-

world.com/news/general-news/7225-europe-s-airports-commit-to-zero-co2-emissions-by-

2050.html). Launched by the French Presidency to the EU on the February, 4th 2022, the so-called Toulouse Declaration is the first-ever public-private initiative supporting European aviation’s goal to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. This is also the first joint initiative of its kind globally, aligning all EU stakeholders on the principles and actions needed to decarbonise and transform Europe’s aviation sector, representing a true breakthrough. The Toulouse Declaration, sets out the roadmap for European aviation to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Several European airports and airport associations have already endorsed the initiative, with 89 airport operators of 311 airports pledging their support. Airports of Montenegro Company operating two Montenegrin airports has endorsed this declaration, among others.

As global initiatives toward the objective of reducing or eliminating carbon emissions continue to grow, technologies designed to do so have also grown and become more financially feasible. The investment in infrastructure and new technologies to support that objective needs time to plan. Developing a roadmap towards ambitious objectives allows an airport to identify its policies and technologies in advance of their need so that they can plan and budget accordingly. Total GHG emissions in domestic aviation sub-sector in Montenegro amounted 59.48 Gg CO2eq in 2019, while total GHG emissions in international aviation sub-sector in Montenegro amounted 285 Gg CO2eq in 2019.