SBTi approves Hactl emissions reduction targets

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) – Hong Kong’s largest independent cargo handler – has had its targets for science-based greenhouse gas emissions reductions approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

SBTi’s target validation team has confirmed that Hactl’s targets comply with SBTi criteria and recommendations, and that Hactl’s scope 1 and 2 target ambition is in line with a 1.5°C trajectory for limiting global temperature rises, says a release from Hactl.

"Hactl made a public commitment to SBTi in 2022. Over the ensuing 18 months, Hactl’s safety, sustainability and quality assurance team has been working on setting targets based on the SBTi criteria. Hactl has now committed to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 50.4 percent by 2030 from a 2018 baseline. The company also commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, fuel- and energy-related activities, waste generated in operations, employee commuting and downstream leased assets by 50.4 percent within the same timeframe. The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks."

Among the many measures Hactl will employ to achieve SBTi targets are replacing internal combustion-powered vehicles and ground support equipment (GSE) with electric versions, procuring renewable energy certificates (RECs), increasing the use of energy efficient lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, working with suppliers to reduce Hactl’s upstream emissions, especially from purchased goods and services, implementing digital management systems to eliminate paper use, and devising innovative ways of diverting wood, paper, plastics and mixed waste from landfill.

“SBTi is the gold standard in targeting and reporting reductions in emissions," says Wilson Kwong, Chief Executive, Hactl. "We are proud to be an early adopter of the scheme in the aviation sector, and to have had our near-term targets approved.

“But this is just the first step. The latest climate science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows it is still possible to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C but we are running dangerously close to that threshold. Urgent action is therefore vital, and Hactl aims both to play its part and set an example for our industry.”