The 7th Annual Airports Going Green Conference is rapidly approaching! The conference will take place at the Westin Chicago River North and will feature more than 70 different speakers including global airport leaders from South Korea, Ireland, Norway, Amsterdam, and Canada. Three of the 20-plus sessions include how airports communicate with the public, how airlines are adapting to climate change, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-sponsored long-term sustainability planning – all of which are described in greater detail below.
Climate Change Resiliency: Airline Extreme Weather Planning
Nate Kimball of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will moderate a panel describe how FedEx, Jet Blue, and United Airlines are dealing with an increased frequency of weather-related delays. We’ll hear how these airlines have been impacted to-date and how they plan to adapt to future changes to maintain business continuity and to minimize impacts to their customers.
Sustainability Management Plan Updates
Moderated by Michelle Baker of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Monday afternoon’s session will feature panelists from Dallas/Fort Worth (Ryan Spicer), Tampa (Alice Price), Minneapolis-St. Paul (Tiffany Finley), and Gulfport-Biloxi (Mississippi) (Lauren Seydewitz) International Airports. The panelists will discuss their experiences in the FAA’s Sustainable Master Plan Pilot Program that was initiated in 2010 to help airports incorporate sustainability into their planning and operational objectives. They will also share how implementing their plans will reduce environmental impacts, maintain economic growth, and achieve social progress.
The Changing Landscape of How Airports Communicate with the Public
Tuesday afternoon will feature an interesting session on public communication strategies moderated by Paul Bowers of Airport Improvement Magazine. Panelists include Jeremy Webb of Seattle, Biran Kulpin of Reno-Tahoe Airport, and Jim Peters of SITA (Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques). They will brush us up on the latest public communication trends and we’ll hear how to promote airports and airport businesses using social media.
On the evening of November 3, conference attendees can enjoy a Sustainable Fabrics Fashion Show thanks to Columbia College Chicago, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Latino Fashion Week, Luna Textiles, and Repreve sustainable fiber. Fashion designer Alexander Knox, a finalist on Season 13 of the Emmy Award-winning reality television series Project Runway, and the Fashion Studies Department at Columbia College Chicago are hard at work creating designs made from repurposed airline seat material. Attendees will also be able to sample a selection of local Chicago beers, foods, and products from vendors including Goose Island, Revolution Brewing, Tortas Frontera, Lagunitas, Rhine Hall, Uncommon Ground, and Sweet Beginnings on Tuesday, November 4 during AGG’s first Sustainable Foods Happy Hour! Plan to join us Wednesday, November 5, for an airfield tour of sustainable initiatives and projects at O’Hare, including MEETING
CDA’s goats, lamas, and sheep, visiting the largest continuous green roof at an airport, test driving a Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, and more! The tour will be followed by a reception at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 aeroponic garden featuring sustainable and delicious food and drink from the airport’s concessionaires.
CDA’s goats, lamas, and sheep, visiting the largest continuous green roof at an airport, test driving a Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, and more! The tour will be followed by a reception at O’Hare’s Terminal 3 aeroponic garden featuring sustainable and delicious food and drink from the airport’s concessionaires.
Please also plan to attend a pre-conference Summit on airport sustainability rating systems on Sunday, November 2, led by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Many sessions will help satisfy LEED continuing education requirements (CEU and AIA).
Airports Going Green 2014 is the airport industry’s first Zero Waste Conference!
The Airports Going Green Conference is the aviation industry’s leading sustainability forum, bringing together sustainability leaders, experts, and innovators from around the world. More than 400 attendees participated in last year’s conference. Airports Going Green is jointly hosted by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
