News about Airport
Carbon Accreditation

Comox Valley Airport in Canada has met all the necessary requirements to enter Airport Carbon Accreditation programme at Level 1 Mapping.

This level involves a thorough assessment of CO2 emissions within the airport premises and the development of a well-organised plan to address and reduce them.

Discover more about Comox Valley Airport HERE

We are delighted to share the renewal of Level 3 Optimisation of Airport Carbon Accreditation for both Los Angeles International Airport and Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport. The two airports operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) have successfully fulfilled all the essential criteria, furthering their commitment to sustainable practices, including the engagement of third party airport operations.

Discover more about LAWA’s sustainability initiatives HERE

The two AVINOR airports in Norway have met all the necessary requirements to renew their accreditations.

Oslo Airport successfully renewed its Level 3+ Neutrality accreditation. It is consistently reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions per passenger and it has proactively engaged other airport stakeholders in collective efforts to further decrease its overall greenhouse gas footprint. Additionally, the airport has invested in climate quotas to offset any remaining emissions, showcasing a strong commitment to environmental responsibility.

Kristiansand Airport has successfully fulfilled all the prerequisites to renew its Level 1 Mapping accreditation. This accomplishment is a result of thorough analysis and assessment of CO2 emissions, followed by the development of a comprehensive plan aimed at effectively reducing these emissions. It highlights the airport's dedication to a sustainable and environmentally conscious approach in its operations.

You can find more about AVINOR’s environmental goals HERE

We are glad to announce that Larnaka and Pafos airports in Cyprus have met all the necessary requirements to renew at Level 3+  Neutrality of our Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. Both airports, operated by Hermes airports, have fulfilled all requirements of the previous levels and have compiled a carbon footprint report.

The Level 3+ certification underscores their efforts to effectively manage and mitigate carbon emissions, contributing significantly to the global endeavor for a greener and more environmentally responsible aviation industry.

Find out more about Hermes’ sustainability initiatives HERE

We are delighted to announce that Athens International Airport (AIA) in Greece has attained the highest level of Airport Carbon Accreditation.

Athens International Airport has met all the requirements to reach Level 4+ Transition and is now fully committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions, aligning with the goals established by the Paris Agreement.

AIA is on track to become the first airport operator to fulfill 100% of its electricity requirements through self-generation from renewable sources. Since March 2023, AIA has added a new 16 MWp photovoltaic power plant for self-consumption to complement the existing 8 MWp photovoltaic power plant, covering an impressive area of 210,000 square meters. The first-phase photovoltaic power plant alone accounts for 45% of the airport company's electricity consumption needs, resulting in a corresponding reduction in indirect carbon dioxide emissions. The completion of the next phase by 2025 will ensure 100% self-generated electricity production for AIA, securing its power needs for the next two decades.

Furthermore, AIA is progressively transitioning a portion of its vehicle fleet to electric vehicles and exploring the use of biofuels for heavy vehicles and equipment. Additionally, it is actively exploring non-carbon dioxide-emitting heating alternatives to replace natural gas for heating and hot water production for daily use.

In addition to its significant role as an economic growth catalyst, AIA is making remarkable strides in reducing its ecological footprint while actively seeking environmental partnerships with all stakeholders within the airport community.

Find more details about AIA’s sustainability initiatives HERE.

El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first airport in Latin America to reach Level 4 - Transformation in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme!

Since joining the program in 2017, El Dorado has consistently pursued an extensive sustainability strategy. They've meticulously reduced emissions through climate-conscious projects, robust planning, and proactive management.

The airport's initiatives include substantial investments in renewable energy sources, the adoption of cutting-edge energy-efficient technologies, waste minimisation efforts, and active participation in community projects aimed at offsetting carbon emissions.

These initiatives have produced tangible results. Over the last few years, El Dorado Airport has installed and utilised more than 11,000 solar panels to generate energy for its operations. The adoption of energy-efficient LED technology has significantly improved lighting efficiency, resulting in an impressive 11.7% reduction in electrical energy consumption. Beyond the airport's boundaries, solar panel systems have been installed in nearby schools, benefiting local communities.

Furthermore, the airport has demonstrated its commitment to responsible waste management, with nearly 80% of its generated waste being repurposed for productive use.

This milestone is a source of immense pride for El Dorado International Airport and serves as a catalyst for its ongoing journey toward a more sustainable future in aviation.

Find out more details on El Dorado’s sustainability initiatives HERE.

We are happy to announce that Donegal Airport in Ireland has officially joined the concerted climate action of the global airport industry within Airport Carbon Accreditation!

Donegal Airport has taken its first significant step towards comprehensive carbon management by achieving Level 1 - Mapping of the programme. This level is achieved through meticulous analysis of CO2 emissions at the airport site and establishing a plan to reduce them.

Explore Donegal Airport's environmental policy HERE

We are happy to announce that Hermosillo Airport (HMO) and Tijuana Airport (TIJ) in Mexico, both operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, have successfully renewed their accreditation at Level 2 - Reduction within the Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme.

This achievement underscores their commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. In their pursuit of reducing their environmental impact, both Hermosillo and Tijuana airports have put in place effective carbon management practices. They have meticulously documented their carbon emissions and implemented robust carbon management procedures yielding tangible CO2 reductions. Furthermore, they have developed comprehensive carbon management plans, outlining strategic steps to further diminish their carbon footprint.

Discover more about the environmental policy of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico HERE.

Incheon International Airport (ICN) in South Korea has met all the necessary requirements to upgrade to Level 4 – Transformation of Airport Carbon Accreditation.

With a visionary long-term carbon management strategy in place, ICN is on a mission for absolute emissions reductions that align with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

This significant advancement to Level 4 underscores ICN's role as a transformational force within the aviation industry, setting a high bar for sustainability and climate action.

The journey to Level 4 within the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme signifies a holistic approach to environmental responsibility. Beyond reducing their own emissions, ICN is a catalyst for third-party reductions through strategic partnerships with other companies operating on the airport site.

We applaud Incheon International Airport on this momentous achievement and eagerly anticipate the continued positive impact they will make in advancing the decarbonisation of the aviation sector.

Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in Iceland has met all the requirements to upgrade to Level 3+ Neutrality of Airport Carbon Accreditation, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainability.

With an unwavering dedication to reducing its carbon footprint, KEF set itself an ambitious goal to achieve net zero operations by 2030. This journey will involve collaborative efforts with stakeholders, rigorous environmental monitoring, transitioning to sustainable energy sources, and implementing certified carbon offsets.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE said:

“I warmly congratulate Keflavík Airport for becoming certified at Level 3+ of Airport Carbon Accreditation. Keflavik airport does walk the talk - delivering tangible CO2 reductions from emissions under its control and offsetting its residual ones but also engaging with its operational partners so that they reduce their own emissions too. Hats off!”

Find out more about Isavia’s sustainability efforts HERE

We are delighted to announce that Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) in Japan has met all the necessary requirements to enter at Level 4 - Transformation of the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.

Dedicated to minimising its environmental footprint, NGO has set a substantial goal to achieve a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2013 levels, with the ultimate ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Commenting on the achievement, Stefano Baronci, Director General, ACI Asia-Pacific, said, “We are proud of Chubu Centrair International Airport’s achievement in reducing carbon emissions and setting an example for airports in the region. Chubu Centrair International Airport is firmly positioning itself as one of the leaders in efficient carbon management and this achievement truly demonstrates its firm commitment to invest in a more sustainable future. It’s encouraging to see airports making tremendous efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and enhance climate-resilience in an era of unprecedented challenges for the industry."

Farnborough Airport was the first business aviation airport in the world to achieve Level 3+ Neutrality of Airport Carbon Accreditation in 2018.

Now they are raising the bar of their climate work once more with the successful upgrade to the highest level 4+ Transition.

Find out more in the airport's Press Release. 

• Over 500 airports now actively engaged in addressing their impact on the climate1
• Over 200 airports working on reducing not just those CO2 emissions under their control (scope 1 & 2), but also engaging other companies on their site to do the same (scope 3)
• 63 airports delivering absolute emission reductions based on a pathway aligned with the objective of the Paris Agreement

Brussels, 30 May 2023 - Airport Carbon Accreditation today celebrates a significant milestone on the journey to decarbonising the airport industry. More than 500 airports across the world are now certified under the programme, having fulfilled the stringent requirements set by its accreditation levels2. Launched back in 2009 by ACI EUROPE, with then just 17 trailblazing airports achieving accreditation, the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme has since become the global standard for carbon management by airports. The 500 milestone is testament to the programme’s continued robustness and relevance in providing the toolbox that enables concrete and performance-driven airport climate action. As such, Airport Carbon Accreditation plays a crucial role in ensuring that the airport industry progresses towards achieving its commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 20503. Niclas Svenningsen, Manager for Programmes Coordination at the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) said: “The collective impact of 500 airports around the world working towards a common goal of carbon reduction is a force to be reckoned with. Accelerating decarbonisation has now become more urgent than ever, against the backdrop of alarming scientific reports flowing from the IPCC and real shifts in the planet’s climate witnessed by us all. We need to decarbonise as fast as possible, or face daunting externalities of unchecked rise in emissions. It is heartening to witness the sheer number of airports from five continents all involved in Airport Carbon Accreditation. We need more initiatives of this standing and reach to guide us through this challenging time of transformation.” Latest achievements From 2019 and ACI EUROPE’s pioneering pledge committing all European airports to achieving net zero CO2 by 2050, through a homologue resolution at the global ACI level in 2021, followed by the landmark ICAO Long-Term Aspirational Goal voted in by the triennial assembly in October 2022, binding the global aviation industry with the net zero goal, the ambitions kept on rising. Catering to these developments, in October 2020, the Airport Carbon Accreditation framework has been expanded to include two new levels: Level 4 ‘Transformation’ and Level 4+ ‘Transition’. Despite the novel and demanding nature of these new levels, and their introduction during the most acute of crises ever witnessed by the global aviation industry, the COVID-19 pandemic, airports in all world regions are eagerly embracing the challenge they present. Currently, 63 airports have managed to become certified at Levels 4/4+. Since the beginning of this year, the following airports managed to achieve:

• Level 4+: Bangalore International Airport in India, Copenhagen Airport in Denmark, Hawke’s Bay Airport in New Zealand and the ten Portuguese airports managed by VINCI Airports, through its subsidiary ANA - including Lisbon, marking the first time an entire airport network within a country aligned with the Paris Agreement.
• Level 4: Hong Kong International Airport, Brisbane and Newcastle airports in Australia.

 The 500 airports milestone was reached thanks to a groundswell of airports joining the programme at all levels of the framework. The most recent airports to join Airport Carbon Accreditation in each world region are:

• Africa: Pierrefonds Airport in La Réunion
• Asia-Pacific: Newcastle Airport in Australia
• Europe: Birmingham Airport in the UK
• Latin America & the Caribbean: Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico
• North America: Boston Logan International Airport in the US

 Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE which runs the global programme commented: “Today’s news is a watershed moment for airport climate action. More than 500 airports including the busiest hubs on the planet are committed to decarbonising within the Airport Carbon Accreditation framework. While we note this excellent achievement, brought about by increasing ambition of airports in all world regions, we do not intend to stop there. The next frontier for the programme will be providing a blueprint for a net zero carbon airport operation. Watch this space!”

Birmingham Airport’s climate efforts have been recognised with Level 3 ‘Optimisation’ directly upon entering the programme. This great achievement testifies to the British airport’s advanced carbon management practices, which encompass working with business partners to deliver third party CO2 reductions. The airport is invested in delivering tangible CO2 reductions on the way to net zero operations – their ultimate goal for 2033.

Find out more in their Press Release.

The international airport of Palermo, Falcone Borsellino has met all the requirements to upgrade to Level 3 'Optimisation' of Airport Carbon Accreditation. At this level, the airport is going beyond CO2 reductions within its own purview, moving on to engage with third parties active at the airport site in climate efforts. 

The airport's own reduction achievements remain impressive. As of December 31, 2022, Gesap, the company operating Palermo Airport, has managed to reduce emissions per passenger from 0.67 to 0.53 kilograms of CO2. This result exceeded expectations set in the airport's in the "Carbon Management Plan 2021-2023".

This has been possible thanks to a series of technical, management and training/informative interventions, among which stand out the construction of photovoltaic plants for the production of green energy, and energy efficiency interventions for lighting plants, the installation inside the parking lot of columns for EV charging, the partial replacement of the corporate vehicle park with electric power powered vehicles, the development of an energy management system certified in accordance with the Iso 50001 standard and various environmental protection training and awareness initiatives aimed not only at Gesap staff, but at all airport users.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the 9 airports operated by ASUR in Mexico, which have been confirmed as reaching Level-2 ‘Reduction’ under the Airport Carbon Accreditation . ASUR joined the Program in October 2021, with Level 1 accreditation, and their airports continue on their decarbonization journey with this progression through a reduction in controlled emissions.

ASUR includes nine airports in southeast Mexico, including Cancun Airport, the most important tourist destination in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, but also Villahermosa, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Merida, Bahias de Huatulco, Tapachula, Cozumel and Minatitlan.

To achieve Level 2 accreditation, each airport in the group demonstrated a degree of mitigation of its carbon emissions, when compared against the 2018 baseline. As part of the accreditation process, they undertook an objective review of CO2 emissions from the airport and set targets. The scope of the undertakings ranged from the development of a solid waste system, through to communication between the group’s airports on their accreditation actions.

The reduction has been made possible due to new energy efficiency measures in each of the terminal buildings, such as the use of LED technology for indoor and outdoor lighting and the installation of more efficient air conditioning equipment with a smaller environmental impact.

The airports work to raise awareness among employees, passengers and partners of their decarbonization actions, and constantly look for innovative solutions that contribute to environmental protection.

Learn more ASUR’s journey here.  

We congratulate them for this new achievement! 

We are delighted to announce that Romania’s Cluj Avram Iancu International Airport has reached Level 2 ’Reduction’ of Airport Carbon Accreditation, having successfully delivered on its requirements, including a reduction target, a management plan and annual CO2 reductions.

Cluj Avram Iancu International Airport joined the program in November 2021, having fulfilled all the requirements of Level 1 ‘Mapping’. Their brand new accreditation at Level 2 recognizes the efforts made by the airport to deliver tangible CO2 reductions in the past year. Thanks to the accreditation process, the airport team were able to objectively understand the current status of CO2 emissions at the airport, set targets and start reducing them!

Cluj Avram Iancu International Airport is dedicated to sustainability and is working with industry partners and institutions to deliver a more climate-friendly air transport sector. For instance, as part of the OLGA project (hOListic Green Airport), under the auspices of the EU Green Deal, Cluj Airport is working on several environmental factors, including increasing the energy efficiency, improving the air quality, reducing the CO2 emissions and protecting the biodiversity. Three international airports and their local stakeholders are involved in the project together with Cluj Airport - Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Milan Malpensa and Zagreb. OLGA partners will seek to solve the challenge of significantly reducing the environmental impact of the air transportation sector as a whole.

Find out more about Cluj Airport’s carbon management here and read more about the OLGA project here. Congratulations on the successful upgrade within Airport Carbon Accreditation!

In a worldwide first, VINCI Airports obtained Level 4+ Transition for the entire airport system in Portugal, including Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports. 

This certification recognises that airports have fully accounted and reported direct and indirect CO2 emissions related to their activities and operations, have significantly reduced their direct emissions, offset their residual direct emissions and started to reduce their indirect emissions. Level 4+ also recognises that airports have set carbon emission reduction targets consistent with a sub-2°C warming scenario under the Paris Agreement.

Portugal thus becomes the first country in the European Union and indeed globally to have its entire airport system (10 airports) certified at the highest level of Airport Carbon Accreditation. This unprecedented performance is based on the exemplary deployment of VINCI Airports' decarbonisation plan by Portuguese airports, which have already reduced their direct emissions by 35% since 2018.

Find out more here. 

• More than half a million tonnes of CO2 reduced by the global community of airports certified by Airport Carbon Accreditation between May ’21 and May ’22
• 30% growth in participation with 395 accredited airports worldwide in 79 countries
• 89 airports achieved advanced levels of carbon management

14 March 2023 – Airports Council International (ACI) today released the annual airport climate action results for Airport Carbon Accreditation, the global carbon standard for airports founded and managed by ACI EUROPE on behalf of airports worldwide.

The past reporting year, running from May 2021 to May 2022, ended with 395 airports spanning 79 countries engaging in carbon management and reduction at one of the six programme levels. The 91 new accreditations reported this year represent the highest growth since Airport Carbon Accreditation’s inception in 2009. Airports have also made great strides in progressing to more stringent levels of accreditation – 86 airports upgraded to a higher level of the programme during the year, with 89 having now achieved advanced levels of carbon management.

Highlighted amongst the programme’s achievements is the sheer diversity of airports now certified. They include airports of all sizes: top global hubs such as London-Heathrow, Istanbul, Doha Hamad International, Singapore-Changi and Dallas Fort Worth are amongst the accredited rollcall, along with capital gateways in all continents such as Abidjan, Athens, Amman, Phnom Penh, Quito and San Jose. Equally, smaller airports serving remote areas, island nations and popular tourism destinations as diverse as Galapagos, Kelowna, Puerto Vallarta, Enfidha Hammamet, Trondheim and Sunshine Coast are proudly counted in their number.

The reporting period covers a timeframe when many airports were facing the profound impact of sluggish and fragile post-Covid traffic recovery on airports’ financial and operational health. In this context, the results achieved serve to reconfirm the unwavering determination of the airport industry to mitigate its impact on the climate.

Delivering tangible carbon savings

The latest carbon reduction and compensation results achieved are equally record-breaking. In the period covered, accredited airports succeeded in collectively reducing the CO2 emissions under their control by 549,643 tonnes, a reduction of -8.1%. This is the largest reduction ever achieved through the programme. In addition, 898,821 tonnes of CO2e were compensated with high quality carbon credits, in line with ACI EUROPE’s Offsetting Guidance1 based on a qualitative assessment of the compensation mechanisms and offset types available on the market.

Niclas Svenningsen, Manager for Programmes Coordination at the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) said: “The results announced today speak volumes of the global airport industry’s commitment to fighting climate change. Against the backdrop of worsening climate impacts and the window of opportunity to keep the warming below 1.5°C rapidly closing, we need all parts of our global economy to act now. Airports have clearly understood this message and are on the front line of climate mitigation within their spheres of influence and lending their impetus to other industry actors. I commend each and every airport engaged in this collective effort to advance the decarbonisation of the airport industry globally.”  

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, said: “The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme is at the heart of what decarbonising an industry like aviation must be about: aspirational yet deeply practical and actionable, charting not only achievements today but the way forwards for tomorrow. Airports know well the role they play in their communities and the expectations that air passengers have with regard to our shared responsibility for the climate and environment.  The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme provides a framework for measurable progress and demonstrable results.  We are intensely proud of the achievements to date, and the appetite for continued change.”

Alignment with the Paris Agreement

The latest addition to the programme framework, Levels 4 (Transition) and 4+ (Transformation), require airports to align their carbon management and reduction trajectory with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, according to which global warming should be limited to below 2⁰C and ideally 1.5⁰C. Their launch back in July 2019 marked a step-change in the programme’s ambition level, laying the ground to accompany airports of all sizes and locations to reach Net Zero CO2.

The number of airports accredited at these levels reached 322 in the reporting period, pointing to the airport community’s readiness to pursue full decarbonisation in line with, or in some cases even more rapidly than the timelines enshrined in the global climate goals.

The 2021-2022 Airport Carbon Accreditation Annual Report can be downloaded here.

1 https://www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org/component/attachments/?task=download&id=1892 Level 4 airports: Christchurch International, EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, Faro, Flores, Horta, Kansai International, Kobe, Lisbon, Madeira, Marseille Provence, Osaka International, Ponta Delgada, Porto, Porto Santo, San Francisco International, Santa MariaLevel 4+ airports: Cannes-Mandelieu, Dallas-Fort Worth International, Eindhoven, Göteborg Landvetter, Heathrow, Indira Gandhi International, Milan-Linate, Milan-Malpensa, Nice Côte d’Azur, Queen Alia International, Rome-Ciampino, Rome-Fiumicino, Rotterdam The Hague, Saint-Tropez, Stockholm Arlanda, Venice 

Antananarivo and Nosy Be airports have become the first airports in Magascar to join the collective climate action movement of airports. Implemented by Ravinala Airports Madagascar, the two international airports of the country have met the requirements of Level 1 Mapping of Airport Carbon Accreditation. Congratulations!