MarketAirport Carbon Accreditation
Company Profile

Airport Carbon Accreditation

Airport Carbon Accreditation is a global carbon management programme for airports that independently assesses and recognises airports' efforts to manage and reduce their CO2 emissions. Aircraft emissions, which are many times greater than airport emissions, are not included in the programme. The airport industry accounts for 5% of the air transport sector’s total carbon emissions.

Levels
Level 1: Mapping To achieve Level 1 accreditation, an airport must meet the following qualifications: • Be able to determine ‘operational boundary’ and the emissions sources within that boundary which are Scope 1 and Scope 2 sources, as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The operational boundary in the context of carbon accounting defined the manner in which the airport measures and manages its GHG emissions. • Be able to collect and process data and calculate the annual carbon emissions for those sources. • Generate a carbon footprint report. Carbon management is a broad topic and includes the following processes: • Low carbon/energy policies • Senior committee or body has responsibility for climate change/carbon/energy matters • Fuel and energy monitoring • Carbon/energy reduction targets • Actions, programs or control mechanisms to ensure operations minimize emissions • Emissions impact of investments are analyzed • Awareness training about emissions • Self-assessment and Auditing to monitor progress towards improvements • Communication emissions performance Level 3+: Neutrality To achieve Level 3+ accreditation, an airport must meet the following qualifications: • Meet all above requirements. • Offset Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, as well as emissions from business travel, using internationally recognized offsets. Carbon neutrality, or net-zero emissions, is achieved when any residual airport emissions are compensated through the purchases of carbon credits. Level 4: Transformation To achieve Level 4 accreditation, an airport must meet the following qualifications: • Meet all above requirements. • Policy commitment to absolute emissions reduction. • Form a long-term absolute carbon emissions reduction target. • The target amount and date shall be aligned with the IPCC 1.5 °C or 2 °C pathways • Carbon Management Plan development with targets. Each airport shall define its trajectory to achieve its carbon emissions reduction target as well as the actions it expects to implement to remain on that trajectory. • Stakeholder Partnership Plan development. The plan shall demonstrate that the airport actively drives third parties at the airport towards delivering emissions reductions themselves via their own reduction plans or through measures initiated by the airport operator. Level 4+: Transition To achieve Level 4+ accreditation, an airport must meet the following qualifications: • Meet all above requirements. • Offset remaining Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions and emissions from staff business travel using internationally recognized offset. Level 5: Topmost Level of Airport Carbon Accreditation To achieve Level 5 accreditation, an airport must meet the following qualifications: • Submit a verified carbon footprint for Scope 1 and 2 emissions and all relevant categories of Scope 3 emissions as per requirements of the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Guidance • Reach and maintain ≥ 90% absolute CO2 emissions reductions in Scope 1 and 2, and commit to Net Zero in Scope 3 by 2050 or sooner. • Credible carbon removals for the residual emissions are applied. • Carbon Management Plan (CMP) fully developed outlining the steps to achieve emissions targets. • Stakeholder Partnership Plan is fully developed to achieve Net Zero for Scope 3 emissions by engaging with the value chain and actively drive third parties at the airport towards delivering emissions reductions themselves with regular milestones in line with their sectors Net Zero frameworks and commitments. == Official endorsements ==
Official endorsements
The initiative is a direct consequence of the resolution on Climate Change adopted in June 2008 by the ACI EUROPE annual assembly, and has been endorsed by both the European Civil Aviation Conference and EUROCONTROL. The administration of Airport Carbon Accreditation is overseen by an independent Advisory Board, members of which include representatives of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), the European Commission, EUROCONTROL, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Manchester Metropolitan University. On 30 November 2011 it was announced that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was also formally supporting the programme, and taking a seat on the independent advisory board. In addition to European Commission participation on the Advisory Board, the then European Commission Vice President responsible for Transport Siim Kallas has strongly supported the scheme, participating in the presentation of accreditation certificates at several European Airports, including Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Brussels and Budapest Airports. He has also stated that he believes the initiative "is playing a crucial role in helping move European aviation onto a more sustainable footing." == Global use ==
Global use
The programme has expanded beyond Europe on 30 November 2011, having been formally extended to the Asia-Pacific region at ACI Airport Exchange conference in Abu Dhabi, organised by ACI ASIA-PACIFIC. The first airport to become accredited within this region was Abu Dhabi International Airport which achieved 'Mapping' level. Since then, 38 airports from the region joined the community of accredited airports. The programme was further extended with the African region of ACI joining the community in June 2013. The launch of Airport Carbon Accreditation in Africa was coupled with the official certification of the first African airport to the programme, Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport in Tunisia, which was certified at the 'Mapping' level. In June 2014, at ACI EUROPE's Annual Congress in Frankfurt the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme celebrated two important milestones in its story: its 5th anniversary together with crossing the threshold of 100 airports participating in the programme. Shortly thereafter, in fall 2014, the programme became global, with its official launch in North America, followed by its introduction in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean. Having already achieved significant results in 5 continents, the launch of Airport Carbon Accreditation in this region, in partnership with ACI Latin America & the Caribbean, marked the decisive moment when the programme became the global standard for carbon management at airports. In 2015, a new interactive website, www.airportco2.org, was launched at the end of Year 6 of Airport Carbon Accreditation – the year of the global expansion of the programme. This microsite was created to promote the programme in more accessible language and to communicate the annual results achieved by participating airports. It continues to present key figures from the programme, both globally and per region, in a more visual and engaging way. == At Paris Sustainable Innovation Forum (COP21) ==
At Paris Sustainable Innovation Forum (COP21)
The COP21 Conference in Paris in December 2015 was an important milestone for the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. On the occasion of its presentation at the Conference, the European airport industry committed to increasing the number of carbon neutral airports to 50 by 2030. Following the announcement of this commitment, ACI EUROPE and the carbon standard Airport Carbon Accreditation signed a partnership with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), at a special side event. The partnership agreement committed ACI to supporting the UNFCCC's 'Climate Neutral Now' campaign, while the UNFCCC would support airport climate action at airports, with a particular focus on carbon management by airports through Airport Carbon Accreditation. The organisations agreed also to develop a common work programme and communications plan promoting carbon neutrality at airports. == European airports commit to 100 carbon neutral airports by 2030 ==
European airports commit to 100 carbon neutral airports by 2030
In June 2017, at ACI EUROPE's 27th Annual Congress, European airports made a new pledge, doubling the one made during COP21. They committed to 100 carbon neutral airports by 2030. Over 20 airport operator companies signed the new commitment, among which: Groupe ADP, AENA, Aeroporto di Bologna, Aeroport Brest Bretagne, Aeroports de la Côte d'Azur, Bristol Airport, Brussels Airport, Finavia, Heathrow Airport, London City Airport, Geneva Airport, Munich Airport, Aeroporto Internazionale di Napoli, Aeroport Quimper Bretagne, Schiphol Group and Zurich Airport. == Awards and recognition ==
Awards and recognition
The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme has gathered a number of notable climate-action awards. In 2013, the programme reached Top 3 in the World You Like competition, a contest in which businesses, NGOs and local authorities can participate by showcasing their climate-friendly solutions, run by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Climate Action. The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme was chosen out of 269 low carbon projects in Europe – and the only transport project in the Top 3. It was recognised as an efficient and innovative climate solution that is making a real difference in helping airports address their CO2 emissions. In May 2014, the airport industry's efforts to address its carbon emissions received the Highly Commended prize at the annual global International Transport Forum (ITF) Awards issued by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The voluntary climate change initiative Airport Carbon Accreditation was named as one of two runners-up for the ITF's Transport Achievement Award. Only a month later, in June 2015, the animation "Life is about Movement", created to highlight the essence of the programme, was awarded the Gold Totem prize in the "Businesses & Eco-Performances" category at the 4th Deauville Green Awards 2015. In 2016, Airport Carbon Accreditation was featured in the first ever European Aviation Environmental Report, published by the European Commission, in very positive terms as one of the innovative initiatives of the airport industry to tackle environmental challenges. == Current state ==
Current state
As of 2017, 192 airports across the world are certified at one of the four levels of Airport Carbon Accreditation. These airports handle 2.7 billion passengers a year, 38.4% of global air passenger traffic. 35 airports are carbon neutral – the latest to reach this level was Helsinki Airport. There are now 28 carbon neutral airports in Europe, 5 in Asia, 1 in North America and 1 in Africa. Europe As of June 2025, there are 286 airports in Europe with Carbon Accreditation. Level 1 Accreditation - Europe 32 total airports in Europe have Level 1 Accreditation, with Greece having 14 of them. Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport in Tunisia was the first to achieve Level 1 accreditation in 2013. Level 2 Accreditation - Africa 8 airports including: • Aéroport de Pierrefonds, RéunionCape Town International Airport, South Africa • King Shaka International Airport, South Africa • Marrakesh Menara Airport, Morocco • Mohammed V International Airport, Morocco • Monastir Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia • OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa • Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius Level 3 Accreditation - Africa 4 airports including: • Aéroport de Dakar-Blaise Diagne, SenegalAéroport de la Réunion - Roland Garros, La ReunionL'Aéroport International de Dzaoudzi-Pamandzi, MayottePort Elizabeth National Airport, South Africa Level 3+ Accreditation - Africa 2 airports including: • Aéroport international de Brazzaville Maya-Maya, Republic of the CongoAéroport International Léon-Mba, Gabon Level 4 Accreditation - Africa 1 airport: • Enfidha Hammamet International, Tunisia Level 4+ Accreditation - Africa 1 airport: • Aéroport Felix Houphouet Boigny, Côte D'Ivoire North America There are 91 accredited airports in North America: Level 1 Accreditation - North America There are 28 airports in North America with Level 1 Accreditation - 19 in the United States and 9 in Canada. • Aéroport Trois-Rivières, CanadaAlbany International Airport, New York United StatesAlbuquerque International Sunport, New Mexico, United States • Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Boston Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts, United States • Calgary International Airport, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaCharlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States • Cincinnati/North Kentucky International Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States • Ellington Airport, Houston, Texas, United States • Fredericton International Airport, New Brunswick, CanadaHarry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, United States • Henderson Executive Airport, Henderson, Nevada, United States • Hilo Airport, Hilo, Hawaii, United States • John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada • Kahului Airport, Kahului, Hawaii, United States • Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Louisville, Kentucky, United States • Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, United States • Montreal Metropolitan Airport, Canada • Naples Municipal Airport, Naples, Florida, United States • North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States • Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, Burlington, Vermont, United States • Plant City Airport, Hillsborough County, Florida United States • Region of Waterloo International Airport, Canada • Saint John Airport, New Brunswick Canada • South Valley Regional Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States • St. John’s International Airport, Canada • Tooele Valley Airport, Toole, Utah, United States Level 2 Accreditation - North America There are 26 airports in North America with Level 2 Accreditation - 17 in the United States and 9 in Canada. • Comox Valley Airport, Canada • Edmonton International Airport, Alberta, Canada • Fort McMurray International Airport, Alberta, Canada • George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas, United States • Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Michigan, United States • Greater Moncton Romeo LeBlanc International Airport, New Brunswick Canada • Hollywood Burbank Airport, California, United States • Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming, United States • John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Ohio, United States • King County International Airport-Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, United States • Long Beach Airport, California, United States • Nanaimo Airport, British Columbia, Canada • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, California, United States • Northeast Philadelphia Airport, United States • Peter O. Knight Airport, Tampa, Florida, United States • Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania, United States • Regina International Airport, Canada • San Antonio International Airport, Texas, United States • San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, California, United States • Saskatoon International Airport, Canada • Stinson Municipal Airport, Texas, United States • Tampa Executive Airport, Florida, United States • Tampa International Airport, Florida, United States • Thunder Bay International Airport, Ontario, Canada • Victoria International Airport, British Columbia, Canada • William P. Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas, United States Level 3 Accreditation - North America There are 26 airports in North America with Level 3 Accreditation - 20 in the United States and 6 in Canada. • Charlottetown Airport, Canada • Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Hawaii, United States • Detroit Metro Airport, United States • Downtown Heliport, United States • Eagle Creek Airpark, United States • Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Canada • Hendricks County Airport-Gordon Graham Field, United States • Indianapolis International Airport, United States • Indianapolis Regional Airport, United States • John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, New York, United States • Kelowna International Airport, Canada • Kona Airport, United States • LaGuardia International Airport, United States • Lihue Airport, United States • Metropolitan Airport, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States • Minneapolis St Paul Airport, Minnesota, United States • Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, United States • Oakland International Airport, United States • Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, Canada • Philadelphia International Airport, United States • Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, Canada • Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah, United States • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, United States • Stewart International Airport, United States • Teterboro Airport, United States • Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, Canada Level 3+ Accreditation - North America There is 1 airport in North America with Level 4 Accreditation - 1 in the USA and none in Canada. • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin, Texas, United States Level 4 Accreditation - North America There are 7 airports in North America with Level 4 Accreditation - 5 in the USA and 2 in Canada. • Dallas Love Field Airport, Dallas, Texas, United States • Los Angeles International Airport, California, United States • Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport, California, United States • Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Canada • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona, United States • San Francisco International Airport, California, United States • Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada Level 4 Accreditation - North America There are 3 airports in North America with Level 4+ Accreditation - 2 in the USA and one in Canada. • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, United States • San Diego International Airport, California, United States • Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, British Columbia Canada Latin America and Caribbean There are currently 105 certified airports in the region of Latin American and Caribbean as of June 2025. Level 1 Accreditation - Latin America and Caribbean Source: • Afonso Pena International Airport, BrazilAmado Nervo National Airport, MexicoBariloche Airport, ArgentinaCiudad del Carmen International Airport, Mexico • Ciudad Victoria International Airport, Mexico • El Tajín National Airport, Mexico • Felipe Ángeles International Airport, Mexico • Foz do Iguaçu International Airport, Brazil • Goiânia International Airport, Brazil • Hermanos Serdán International Airport, Mexico • Jujuy Airport, ArgentinaLicenciado Miguel de la Madrid National Airport, Mexico • Loreto International Airport, Mexico • Lynden Pindling International Airport, BahamasNavegantes Airport, Brazil • Orlando Bezerra de Menezes – Juazeiro do Norte Airport, Brazil • Paraná Airport, Argentina • President Castro Pinto – João Pessoa International Airport, Brazil • President João Suassuna – Campina Grande Airport, Brazil • Puerto Escondido International Airport, Mexico • Punta del Este International Airport, UruguayRecife International Airport, Brazil • Río Grande Airport, Argentina • Salta Airport, Argentina • Santa Maria – Aracaju International Airport, Brazil • Santos Dumont Airport, Brazil • São Luís–Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport, Brazil • Tehuacán National Airport, Mexico • Tucumán Airport, Argentina • Zumbi dos Palmares – Maceió International Airport, Brazil Level 2 Accreditation - Latin America and Caribbean Source: • Aeropuerto Internacional de Córdoba “Ingeniero Aeronáutico Ambrosio Taravella”, Argentina • Brasilia International Airport, Brazil • Carrasco International Airport, UruguayComodoro Rivadavia Airport, Argentina • Curaçao International Airport, CuraçaoDaniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, Costa RicaEzeiza International Airport, Argentina • Hermosillo International Airport, Mexico • Iguazu Cataratas Airport, Argentina • Jorge Newbery Airfield Buenos Aires, Argentina • L.F. Wade International Airport, BermudaLos Mochis International Airport, Mexico • Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, Puerto Rico • Mendoza El Plumerillo Airport, Argentina • Montego Bay Sangster Airport, JamaicaNorman Manley International Airport, Jamaica • Pisco Airport, PeruPunta Cana International Airport, Dominican RepublicSan Jose Del Cabo International Airport, Mexico • Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport, Chile • Tijuana International Airport, Mexico Level 3 Accreditation - Latin America and Caribbean Source: • Acapulco International Airport, Mexico • Aguascalientes International Airport, Mexico • Arroyo Barril Airport, Dominican Republic • Cancun Airport, Mexico • Chihuahua International Airport, Mexico • Ciudad Juarez Airport, Mexico • Cozumel International Airport, Mexico • Culiacan Airport, Mexico • Durango Airport, Mexico • Gregorio Luperón International Airport, Dominican Republic • Guadalajara International Airport, Mexico • Guanajuato International Airport, Mexico • Huatulco Airport, Mexico • Jorge Chávez International Airport, Peru • La Isabela International Airport, Dominican Republic • La Paz International Airport, Mexico • Las Américas International Airport, Dominican Republic • Manzanillo International Airport, Mexico • María Montez International Airport, Dominican Republic • Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport, MartiniqueMazatlan Airport, Mexico • Merida Airport, Mexico • Mexicali International Airport, Mexico • Minatitlan Airport, Mexico • Monterrey Airport, Mexico • Morelia International Airport, Mexico • Oaxaca Airport, Mexico • Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport, France • Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Mexico • Queen Beatrix International Airport, NetherlandsQuerétaro International Airport, Mexico • Reynosa Airport, Mexico • Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport, Brazil • Saint Martin Grand Case Airport, France • Samaná El Catey International Airport, Dominican Republic • San Luis Potosi Airport, Mexico • Tampico International Airport, Mexico • Tapachula Airport, Mexico • Torreon Airport, Mexico • Veracruz Airport, Mexico • Villahermosa Airport, Mexico • Zacatecas Airport, Mexico • Zihuatanejo Airport, Mexico Level 3+ Accreditation - Latin America and Caribbean Source: • Belo Horizonte International Airport, Brazil • Cibao International Airport, Dominican Republic • Galapagos Ecological Airport, EcuadorJosé Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, Ecuador • San José Juan Santamaria International Airport, Costa Rica Level 4 Accreditation - Latin America and Caribbean Source: • Aeroporto de Macaé – Joaquim de Azevedo Mancebo, Brazil • El Dorado International Airport, Colombia • Florianópolis International Airport – Hercílio Luz, Brazil • Vitoria International Airport, Brazil Level 4+ Accreditation - Latin America and Caribbean Source: • Quito International Airport, Ecuador • Salvador Bahia International Airport, Brazil == Counting the CO2 reduction ==
Counting the CO2 reduction
Airport emissions have been reduced by 55,633 tonnes of CO2 in Year 1 of the programme and 55,501 tonnes in Year 2, and 77,782 tonnes in Year 3 as a result. Year 4 of the programme had a CO2 reduction of 110,003 tonnes - enough to power 45,949 households for a year. If 31,894 cars were removed from the roads for one year, it would enable a reduction close to the one achieved by Airport Carbon Accreditation's participants in Year 5. From July 2014 to June 2015, the programme has allowed a reduction comparable to the annual CO2 sequestered by 1,496 acres of forest. We could have powered almost twice as many households as compared to the year 4 result in the sixth consecutive year of the programme. Following years are bound to beat these figures, with a number of accredited airports at high levels rising. ==References==
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