New Straits Times 23 May, 2004
International Airport has been Green Globe 21 certified, the first airport in the Asia-Pacific region and the first local travel and tourism organisation to be recognised. Green Globe 21 (GG21) sets the benchmark in sustainable travel and tourism for consumers, companies and communities. KLIA was committed to developing the airport in an environmentally sensitive and responsible manner, he added. "We will strive to improve environmental performance, reduce waste and prevent pollution." Among the environmental programmes practised at KLIA are improved management of social and cultural issues, waste minimisation, reuse and recycling and improved waste water management system.
"Noise pollution is an inevitable issue in all airports. To ensure that it did not affect the neighbourhood, KLIA gazetted a ‘no build zone' measuring 10km by 10km," he said.
"There is also a belt of palm trees and forest around the airport which act as noise buffers.
"We are responsible for ensuring that operations at KLIA and its associated facilities do not affect the quality of downstream water bodies, thus wastewater is collected and treated before it is released into the Sepang River." The airport has built three balancing ponds to collect stormwater. They allow sedimentation and settling of pollution before the water is run off into rivers.
All cleaning solvants for hazardous materials are also protein-based and environmentally-friendly.
GG21 is the environmental arm of the World Travel and Tourism Council and has a mandate to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development in the sector.
It came about at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit where 182 nations signed an accord, known as Agenda 21, on the need for sustainable development.
The benefits are improved environmental performance, competitiveness, savings achieved through improved efficiency, staff commitment, improved knowledge, community interaction and reputation. |