Brussels, 26/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 26 October, the European Commission expressed its support for a programme developed by European airports (Airport Carbon Accreditation) to manage and reduce carbon emissions. On his way to the European Aviation Summit, held in Bruges on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 October, the European transport commissioner, Siim Kallas, presented the Belgian international airport in Brussels with the certificate for its latest achievement within the programme. “In transport, sustainability is not an 'optional extra' - it has to come as standard. We can only succeed in tackling climate change if the actions of regulators are complemented by citizens and businesses taking action of their own”, said Kallas during the certificate-awarding ceremony. He went on to add that the programme initiated 16 months ago by European airports plays “a crucial role” in line with the historic agreement reached in ICAO (see EUROPE 10230) for helping to move European aviation onto a more sustainable footing. It is encouraging to see that airports are making an effort to reduce CO2 emissions, said Etienne Schouppe, the Belgian secretary of state for mobility, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. Olivier Jankovec, the director general of the European airports trade body, ACI Europe, welcomed the fact that the EU had recognised the added value of the programme. “Through Airport Carbon Accreditation, Europe's airports have already moved from words to action, when it comes to tackling their CO2 emissions”, he said. Launched by the airport industry, the programme allows progress to be made by European airports in reducing and managing their emissions to be recognised on a gradual scale. There are four levels of accreditation possible until an airport is certified as “neutral” from the emissions point of view. To date, this achievement has resulted in a 550,000 tonne reduction of CO2 mainly through improved management of aviation movement. Brussels Airport alone has reduced its CO2 emissions by 10,000 tonnes in just one year.