The second day of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 2026 Green Airports Symposium, hosted by Egypt's Ministry of Civil Aviation in Cairo, focused on enhancing airport resilience to climate-related risks. The event, organized by the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, brought together experts to discuss practical implementation of adaptation plans.
The day's proceedings began with a keynote address by Ali Al-Tunisi, Secretary General of the Airports Council International (ACI) Africa. He emphasized the future of African airports in the face of climate challenges and the need for sustainable and operational resilience. This participation is significant given the collaborative relationships between the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and ACI Africa.
Deniz Kaymak, ICAO's Assistant Environment Officer, presented an overview of the organization's efforts in climate change adaptation. She highlighted the urgent need for the aviation sector to address climate impacts, citing ICAO's 2024 report, which showed that 73% of respondents had already experienced climate-related disruptions, but only 15% had completed risk assessments and implemented adaptation plans.
The seventh session, "Understanding Climate Risks to Airport Operations and Infrastructure," examined expected climate impacts on the aviation system, including rising temperatures, floods, and extreme weather events. The session was moderated by Rachel Barbidge, Senior Policy Officer for Environment and Climate Change at EUROCONTROL.
The eighth session, "When Climate Hits: Airports, Airlines, and Air Navigation Service Providers in the Face of Extreme Events... What Happened? What Did It Cost? What Changed?" shared practical experiences and lessons learned from climate-related disruptions. The session was led by Asmita Das Sharma, Sustainability and Resilience Officer at NACO.
The ninth session, "Adapting to Climate Change in Airports: Planning, Design, and Capacity Building," explored integrating climate resilience into airport infrastructure projects and future planning. The session was moderated by Sofia Olimos, Director of Environmental Protection at ACI World.
The symposium concluded with a session on financing and partnerships for climate-resilient airports. The event provided a platform for experts and decision-makers to discuss practical solutions for developing the airport sector and enhancing its resilience to environmental and operational changes. Egypt's hosting of the symposium supports cooperation and knowledge sharing with international organizations.
Key points
- The ICAO Green Airports Symposium highlights the need for airports to adapt to climate change.
- The event brings together experts to discuss practical implementation of adaptation plans.
- Egypt's Ministry of Civil Aviation is hosting the symposium to support cooperation and knowledge sharing.
