Miami International Airport earns recognition
From David Volz
Airports Council International (ACI) announced last week that Miami International Airport has earned the agency’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), which recognizes MIA’s verified dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions within its operational control and its commitment to expanding its climate goals and reduction targets. MIA will receive its accreditation certificate on September 9 at the 2024 ACI-North American Annual Conference and Exhibition in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
MIA is one of only two airports in Florida and four in the Southeast U.S. accredited by ACI’s global ACA program. MIA’s sustainability goals are based on Miami-Dade County’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Race to Zero Program and The Climate Action Strategy, which calls on MIA to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030. MIA’s resilience goals include elevating its Level 1 ACA accreditation (Mapping) to Level 2 (Reduction) by demonstrating that it is reducing its carbon footprint with measures such as increasing its removal and disposal of contaminated soil; increasing its recycling and waste reduction; reducing electricity usage; reducing fuel consumption with newly purchased electric vehicles; reducing carbon emissions by adjusting the usage of emergency generators; and achieving Level 1 accreditation at Miami-Dade County’s four general aviation airports.
“This prestigious distinction from the leading airport industry experts at ACI World speaks volumes about the status of MIA and Miami-Dade County as global leaders in sustainability,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Even more impressive is that MIA attained its accreditation while also being the fastest-growing gateway airport in the country since the pandemic in terms of airline seat capacity. Congratulations to the MIA team for their world-class efforts to cut carbon emissions by 50% before 2030 by reducing fuel and electricity usage, and for being recognized on the global stage.”
Under the leadership of Mayor Cava and Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) Director and CEO Ralph Cutié, MIA has implemented historic energy conservation and sustainability measures at the County’s largest economic engine over the last four years.
Two Miami-Dade departments merge
From David Volz
The Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources’ (RER) Code Compliance and Consumer Protection Divisions have merged to become the new Consumer and Neighborhood Protection Division, providing residents and businesses streamlined services for consumer protection and code compliance issues through a more unified approach.
“This merger will greatly benefit the community by providing more streamlined, efficient, and comprehensive consumer services,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are more committed than ever to our customers, and this merger ensures that residents will continue to receive exceptional service.”
Effective August 1, 2024, all consumer protection services will be available at the Permitting and Inspection Center (PIC), located at 11805 SW 26 Street, Miami, 33175, where code compliance services are already found. The PIC also houses building permitting and certificate of use issuance to many of the same residents and businesses in need of consumer protection licensing and services.
“Unifying our code compliance and consumer protection services is part of our intentional efforts to improve our permitting, licensing and regulatory processes for our customers,” said RER Director Lourdes Gomez. “Our goal is to provide residents and businesses a one-stop, seamless experience, whether in person or online.”