China's airports map out plan to go green

The aviation industry is well known as a carbon-intensive business. And many may wonder: Could it ever turn green? Many airports around the world are looking to do just that, changing the perception of the aviation industry by finding ways to save energy, cutting carbon emissions, and integrating the latest green-tech into their daily operations.

To be green or not to be green. This is the critical question that airports around the globe will have to make sooner rather than later. In China, efforts to become green are still at an embryonic stage.

Tian Baohua, advisor of China Ministry of Transport, said, "China's airports are usually built with a magnificent look, but they neglect the realistic and practical aspects... The obsession with visual beauty sacrifices the considerations of saving energy and cutting emissions. To build green airports, we need to make good plans from the starting point."

In July, the State Council issued a guideline that highlighted civil aviation as "a national strategic industry".

According to the guideline, China will build 82 new airports between 2011 and 2015, and construct a national air transport network that will cover 89 percent of the total population by 2020. Part of the business might also be green airports.

"Green airports" is still a relatively new concept. But in this whole airport expansion and building frenzy, how to build greener and more sustainable airports in China will become crucial.

So, what exactly are "green airports"? These are airports which implement energy-saving measures, reduce waste, introduce noise-abating technologies and improve public transport to and from airports.

But as of now, one of the biggest problems may be that no universal "green airport" standard or evaluation system currently exists.