ACI EUROPE has awarded a new Level 5 within its Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, which independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions.
Announced at COP28, the new top Level 5 “recognises the ultimate achievement and maturity in airport carbon management”, based on requirements including:
- Reaching and maintaining ≥ 90 per cent absolute CO2 emissions reductions in Scope 1 and 2 (direct and indirect emissions under the airport’s control), and committing to achieving net zero in Scope 3 (indirect emissions outside of the airport’s control) by 2050 or sooner
- Removing residual emissions from the atmosphere through investment in credible carbon removal projects
- Outlining detailed steps to achieve their emissions reduction targets, as part of their Carbon Management Plan
- Submitting a verified carbon footprint for Scope 1 and 2 and all relevant categories of Scope 3
- Establishing a Stakeholder Partnership Plan, engaging with the entire airport ecosystem at a much deeper level, and actively driving third parties towards delivering emissions reductions themselves
The first ten airports to achieve Level 5 are:
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Eindhoven and Rotterdam The Hague airports in the Netherlands, (all operated by the Royal Schiphol Group)
- Beja, Madeira and Ponta Delgada airports in Portugal (operated by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal | VINCI Airports)
- Christchurch Airport in New Zealand (operated by Christchurch International Airport Ltd)
- Göteborg Landvetter and Malmö airports in Sweden (operated by Swedavia)
- Toulon-Hyères airport in France (operated by VINCI Airports)
Commenting on the news Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI EUROPE, said:
“Since its launch back in 2009, Airport Carbon Accreditation has become the global standard for carbon management at airports – with 557 airports certified across 5 continents to date. While the programme’s requirements and structure have evolved overtime to reflect both science and societal expectations, the launch of Level 5 today marks a pivotal shift.
“The establishment of a reference framework for airports achieving and maintaining a net-zero carbon balance for emissions under their control reflects the fact that airports are starting to deliver on their net zero commitments.
“Crucially, Level 5 also pushes airports to extend their focus beyond those direct CO2 emissions, by following a comprehensive approach in measuring their Scope 3 emissions and influencing their reduction towards net zero by 2050.
“Level 5 signifies genuine business transformation, and I wholeheartedly congratulate the trailblazing airports from the Royal Schiphol Group, Christchurch, VINCI Airports and Swedavia that have pioneered it and met all its stringent requirements.”
Last month Munich airport announced a target of reaching net zero by 2035, 15 years earlier than previously planned.
