Airports are busy places, with all the features of small town in many cases. How do you begin to address carbon management in such a complex space? We identified 4 stages and built our programme, Airport Carbon Accreditation around them, so that progress would be visible and measurable. Click on the 4 sections below to see what each stage means and which airports are at it.
There’s a saying “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. The first level of Airport Carbon Accreditation – Mapping is all about airports setting out and mapping the carbon emissions on their site and in particular, the ones over which they have control.
In the past year
145 airports
have mapped their carbon footprints
Which airports have mapped their carbon footprints?
Find out more about MAPPING
The ‘Reduction’ level is for airports who have proven that they have reduced their carbon emissions.
In the past year
158 airports
airports have actively reduced the CO2 emissions under their direct control Which airports have reduced their carbon footprints?
Find out more about REDUCTION
Airports are the ‘Optimisation’ level have proven that they have reduced their CO2 emissions and engaged other companies (airlines, retailers, air traffic controllers, ground handlers, etc) on the airport site to do likewise.
94 airports
have achieved this level, including some prominent hub airports. Which airport operators have reduced their carbon emissions and engaged others to do the same?
Find out more about OPTIMISATION
Airports at the ‘Neutrality’ level are carbon neutral – but to achieve this level, they have actively reduced their carbon footprint, engaged others on the airport site to do the same and offset any residual CO2 emissions under their direct control.
44 airports
have achieved carbon neutrality. These airports represent 4% of global air passenger traffic
Which airport operators have achieved carbon neutrality for the carbon emissions under their direct control?
Find out more about NEUTRALITY
Airport Carbon Accreditation supports the UNFCCC ‘’Climate Neutral Now’’ campaign
Airports at the ‘Transformation’ level have proven that they have formulated a long-term, absolute emissions reduction target, aligned with the 1.5°C pathway or the 2°C pathway outlined by the Intergovernmental Panal on Climate Change (IPCC). They also need to define the steps to achieve this target and the interim milestones to measure its progress. Last but not least, these airports need to demonstrate evidence of actively driving third parties towards delivering emissions reductions.
17 airports
has achieved this level so far. Congratulations to the trailblazer airport!
Which airport operators have aligned their carbon management with global climate goals?
Airports at the ‘Transition’ level have fulfilled all the requirements of level 4+ ‘Transformation’. On top of this very advanced carbon management strategy and implementation, these airports have also chosen to compensate for their residual CO2 emissions with carbon credits of the highest quality. Their compensation remit has also been extended to include more CO2 sources at the airport site.
46 airports
have achieved this level so far and many more have expressed their ambition to work towards it!