How can you reduce your airport's carbon footprint?

1 Assess your current impact

The first step to reducing your carbon footprint is to measure it. You need to know how much emissions your airport generates from various sources, such as energy consumption, aircraft operations, ground transportation, waste management, and procurement. You can use tools like the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program, which provides a framework and guidance for assessing and reporting your carbon footprint. By doing so, you can identify your hotspots, set realistic targets, and monitor your progress.

2 Switch to renewable energy

One of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to use renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, or biomass, to power your airport facilities and operations. Renewable energy can reduce your dependence on fossil fuels, lower your energy costs, and enhance your resilience. You can install renewable energy systems on your airport premises, such as solar panels, wind turbines, or biogas plants, or purchase green electricity from external providers. You can also encourage your tenants and partners to adopt renewable energy solutions.

3 Improve your energy efficiency

Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is to improve your energy efficiency, which means using less energy to achieve the same or better results. You can do this by upgrading your lighting, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, installing smart meters and sensors, and implementing energy management policies and practices. You can also educate and engage your staff and passengers on how to save energy and reduce waste.

4 Optimize your aircraft operations

Aircraft operations are a major source of emissions for airports, so you need to optimize them to reduce your carbon footprint. You can do this by implementing measures such as continuous descent approach (CDA), which reduces fuel burn and noise by allowing aircraft to land smoothly without leveling off; single-engine taxiing, which reduces fuel consumption and emissions by using only one engine to move on the ground; and electric or hybrid ground support equipment (GSE), which reduces emissions and noise by replacing diesel-powered vehicles.

5 Promote sustainable mobility

Transportation is another significant source of emissions for airports, so you need to promote sustainable mobility options for your staff and passengers. You can do this by providing and incentivizing public transport, such as buses, trains, or light rail, that connect your airport to the city and other destinations; offering and supporting alternative modes of transport, such as cycling, walking, or carpooling, that reduce congestion and pollution; and facilitating and regulating low-emission vehicles, such as electric or hybrid cars, that use less fuel and emit less carbon.

6 Manage your waste responsibly

Waste management is another aspect of your airport operations that can affect your carbon footprint, so you need to manage it responsibly. You can do this by reducing the amount of waste you generate, by using less packaging, paper, and disposable items; reusing and recycling the waste you produce, by separating, collecting, and processing different materials; and recovering the energy from the waste you cannot reuse or recycle, by converting it into electricity, heat, or biogas.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?