Kansai Airports Acquires J Blue Credit Certification Seaweed Bed at KIX Island Certified as Effective CO2 Sink

2022-12-14

Kansai Airports is pleased to announce that we have quantified the amount of CO2 absorbed by seaweed growing on the seawall around the Kansai International Airport (KIX) islands and obtained J Blue Credit* certification.

Carbon stored in the ocean by the actions of marine life is called "blue carbon," and is attracting attention as a new sink for CO2. KIX island has adopted a gently sloping masonry revetment for most of its seawalls, creating a rich seaweed bed environment through years of nurturing, maintenance, and monitoring surveys.

This J Blue Credit certification publicly recognizes the amount of CO2 absorbed by these seaweed beds. The Kansai Airports Group is engaged in various activities to reduce its environmental impact based on its long-term goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The recognition of CO2 absorption and fixation has demonstrated that the creation of the seaweed bed environment contributes not only to water purification and the supply of fishery resources as spawning and breeding grounds for fish and shellfish, but also to the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Kansai Airports Group will continue to promote various initiatives to reduce environmental
impact, and thus contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

* A credit certified, issued and managed by Japan Blue Economy Association (JBE). The certification and
issuance are made after examination and verification by a third-party committee independent of JBE.

Outline
Project name: Creation of a rich seaweed bed environment at KIX

Certified CO2 absorption amount: 103.2 t-CO2（Five years from FY2017 to FY2021）