It is a privilege to call this Remarkable place home.
We are dedicated guardians, committed to
preserving and protecting our region alongside
the community for the benefit of generations to
come. Sustainability guides the way we think, the
decisions we make, and the way we do business.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
When developing our Sustainability Strategy, we incorporated feedback and guidance from a range of stakeholders, including shareholders, the community, and sustainability experts. The insights gained enabled us to produce a strategy that prioritises three pillars: people, planet and prosperity. We have also developed a roadmap to decarbonise our airport operations and set science-based targets. We have identified key priorities for each pillar that help drive initiatives and deliver results across the business.
Queenstown Airport is committed to supporting Aotearoa New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon economy. We are committed to maintaining net-zero organisational emissions, while striving to achieve further emissions reductions, targeting an 85% absolute reduction in scope 1 and 2 and limited scope 3 emissions* by 2028. We also support the global Fly Net Zero by 2050** target through infrastructure planning, collaboration and advocacy.
Our priorities are providing leadership in the transition to a lower-carbon economy, supporting local biodiversity, and robust reporting as a member of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme. Planning for and enabling the decarbonisation of aviation is embedded in our Sustainability Strategy and long-term planning. We measure the impact of our operations and map our carbon footprint in accordance with the GHG Protocol.
Starting in 2019, we were audited annually by Toitū Envirocare for five years, achieving Toitū net carbonzero certification in 2023. In 2024, we joined the ACA programme, administered by the Airports Council International, which enables us to benchmark our progress against other airports worldwide. It is robustly verified and requires us to track emissions from a wider range of activities beyond our direct control, including aircraft emissions.
We have maintained Level 4+ ‘Transition’ Airport Carbon Accreditation and aim to reach Level 5, the highest tier in the programme, by 2028.
We support the aspiration of our majority shareholder, the Queenstown Lakes District Council, that our district sets the standard for regenerative, low-impact living, working, and travel. We have incorporated the targets in QLDC’s Climate and Biodiversity Plan*** that are relevant to our business.
* For scopes 1, 2 and limited scope 3 emissions compared to our 2019 baseline year. Local native reforestation credits are applied to scope 1 and limited scope 3 emissions. Renewable energy certification is applied to scope 2 emissions.
** The four commercial airlines operating at ZQN have committed to the International Air Transport Association’s target.
***https://climateaction.qldc.govt.nz/
